Ideas are like fish, both stink after three days
By Flavio Copes
My take on why a brand new idea feels like the greatest thing ever, but if you give it three days it starts to stink and you finally see its flaws.
There’s an old Italian saying:
L’ospite è come il pesce: dopo tre giorni puzza
that dates back to Tito Maccio Plauto, 250 a.C. – 184 a.C..
In English it can be translated to “fish and visitors stink after three days”, a quote that for some reason is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who was born 20 centuries after the saying was already popular in the “old world”.
Anyway!
When I say ideas are like fish, I mean that once you have an idea it looks like the greatest thing ever.
I apply this to ideas for new apps to build.
It’s going to be super popular!
Everyone will use my app!
It’s also applicable to new features:
I’m sure my users will find this a great new feature!
Give it 3 days. Let it sink.
After 3 days, the idea will smell like fish. You will see all its failures and defects.
You’ll have a much better perspective on it.
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