Take time to explore game-changing possibilities. Dream big, and come up with wild ideas that can take your company to the next level. Let the idea of the elephant inspire you. But don’t let it distract you from the day-to-day execution required to build a strong company. Building a company is about more than ideation. Take a look around and you’ll see that the world is full of people with “the next big idea.” To create a lasting company, you have to execute on the fundamentals. Look at the top athletes in the world. They don’t waste much time with on innovative, game-changing plays. They don’t learn experimental techniques. They practice the fundamentals 99% of the time, because winning comes down to execution. You can eat an elephant, but only one bite at a time.
The chasm between those who dream and those who execute is wide and deep. Great entrepreneurs can dream big and execute fundamentals. They explore big possibilities and never stop coming up with new and better ways to do things. But they also realize that anything worthwhile takes focus, dedication, and follow through. Think big, execute small.
