Too many ideas?

(Listening to the new Cornelius album "Sensuous." Besides the pristine production value, I really dig his sense of humor and melody.)

Back on the Robert Grudin kick. Someone suggested recently that it's possible to have too many ideas. (This was in context of productivity, efficiency and focus within an ad agency.) I completely disagree with the assertion, of course. After all, what is an ad agency, without ideas? Ideas are fuel. Can't have enough fuel, regardless of context, and truly, regardless of cost.

But the argument sticks with me. Too many ideas?

In The Grace of Great Things, Grudin writes,

"To think creatively is to walk at the edge of chaos. In thinking the original, we risk thinking the ridiculous."

I suspect that's the fear--too many ideas means we might waste time. Better to get on with it. Better to reach conclusions swiftly. Putting one's feet up, tossing out ideas willynilly appears unproductive. It doesn't seem to add up; not with another meeting in 15 minutes.

"Many creative people initially are seen as troublemakers, simply because their vigorous and uncompromising analysis exposes problems that have been previously ignored."

Sometimes ideas are a form of due diligence. In teaching, I've used this analogy:  "We know there's gold (the best, most brilliant, most effective idea) buried somewhere in our backyard. How to find this narrow shaft?" My advice--dig as many small, shallow holes as possible initally, before digging deep. Develop as many ideas as you can, so you know where the gold isn't. Then focus on where the gold is most likely buried.

Given the evolution of advertising and marketing, given Chaos 2.0, who would reject too many ideas? Without them, we are nothing. Without them, we fail.