start local

Many people try to solve global problems without testing it locally first.

"Think globally, act locally" is especially important in the AI age because your local community is the perfect testing ground - and it’s almost freely accessible.

You already have potential customers all around you.

Just talk to people about your ideas first.

There’s no need for websites or advertising or surveys.

By starting with conversations, you’ll quickly figure out what you’re blind spots are.

The biggest limitation people seem to have with this approach is the courage to ask dumb questions.

Testing ideas locally is a universally good idea

Getting local feedback is free, but many people skip this step or ignore the advice they are given.

Your community offers:

• An immediate feedback loop: You’ll be able to see in real time, real human emotions and responses, not just the results of digital surveys or comments.
• A natural support network: People who like your idea will want to help. One connection can lead to more through networks. Don’t underestimate this.
• The opportunity for idea evolution before investing too much: Conversations can spark new insights you didn't see before.

The feedback loop is free and fast. But remember 2 things:

• Just because one person says negative things about you idea. Doesn’t mean they are correct. 25% of people will make the wrong choice about any given question.
• Just because all your neighbours say you have a good idea, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. You still need a level of judgement here.

There are some other ‘gotchas’ to be careful of here

Public organisations are highly political

If you ask any public organisation for feedback on anything, there is a complex internal dynamic you need to contend with:

• Some stakeholders will resist new ideas to protect established roles and influence.
• Your innovative proposals might be perceived as a challenge to their power; and
• They may assess your proposal from a risk perspective rather than on its own merit.

Don’t be deluded into thinking a good idea will necessarily get backed by organisations

Resistance to new proposals or ideas can manifest for a range of reasons. If your proposal advocates for greater efficiency, people may see it as a threat to their personal benefits or authority - and lost of other reasons.

The key filter you want to apply here is reasoning:

• Are the people expressing negative feedback with clear or ambigous reasoning.
• If they don’t offer good feedback, or the feedback is vague - they may be playing a game.
• If it’s specific and logical - it’s probably good feedback.

Leaders will often reject external ideas purely on the basis they didn’t think of them. It’s terrible to watch.

Other influence strategies

Try to build relationships rather than focusing on a pitch

You want to connect with community members individually and talk them through what you’re trying to achieve.

It may be best to avoid taking ideas directly to a committee or some kind of decision making vehicle.

Without due diligence or an advocate they're likely to just reject it without consideration.

Lead with action rather than asking for permission

• It might be best simply announce your initiative and invite people to participate.
• Frame involvement as an opportunity to participate in - & not something that requires approval.
• When people accept an invitation - that’s the first step to influence and president.

Conclusion

To successfully implement ideas that can scale globally, start by taking decisive local action:

• Begin with conversations: Talk to people in your immediate community about your ideas before investing in websites or formal marketing.
• Embrace feedback loops: Leverage the free, immediate feedback from real humans in your community to refine your ideas.
• Build relationships first: Connect with community members individually before making formal pitches.
• Lead with action: Sometimes it's better to simply announce your initiative and invite participation rather than seeking permission.
• Filter feedback wisely: Pay attention to the quality of reasoning behind feedback - specific and logical feedback is typically more valuable than vague responses.

Remember that starting locally doesn't just test your idea - it builds the foundation, network, and insights needed for sustainable growth.

Your community is your first and most accessible laboratory for innovation.