Chances are good that you had an amazing idea in the past but didn't act on it. Where would you be now if you had? Awareness of the common reasons people don't act on great ideas may empower you the next time your inner genius strikes. New ideas often challenge the status quo and, when examined, feel as if they are outside your comfort zone. To act with determination, decide to overcome 1) fear of failure - what you imagine will happen if the idea flops; 2) fear of success - apprehension about what will be different if you succeed; 3) procrastination - this postpones or avoids the pain of #1 or #2; 4) depression and anxiety - these conditions undermine excitement (seek evaluation/treatment if you suspect that they are holding you back); and 5) inertia - the tendency to do nothing or have things remain unchanged is its own force for inaction.