Are you an idea person or an execution person? 🤔

Tabitha Brown said get a job, but here's the part she didn't say...

The internet wouldn’t get off of Tabitha Brown’s neck a couple weeks back after she shared a controversial message to entrepreneurs (here’s an excerpt, but you can watch the full video she posted here):

You have proven to yourself and everybody else you owe money to that [entrepreneurship] ain’t working right now. It ain’t worked for a while. It actually has never worked yet. Doesn’t mean it won’t ever work, but right now you need to go to work. You gone need to get a job.

Some folks felt it was the tough love they needed while many others took offense and suddenly turned on Brown. Plenty of opinions read that she herself worked to create immense success; however, now that she’s made it to celebrity status, it’s deeply out of touch for her to advise others to focus less on their dreams and more on landing a job.

A little nuance in her video could’ve been helpful, but quite frankly, it was her message. People who are chronically online have got to stop thinking that everything applies to them in full.

That said, I want to zoom in on a part of her message that could change the game for you right now: not everyone is supposed to do everything. And in this new age where our attention is so split yet lots of us want to be solopreneurs who ‘wear every hat’, it’s important to pause and ask yourself:

👉🏾 Am I an idea person?

👉🏾 Am I an execution person?

👉🏾 And what does that mean for the way I move in my career?

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💡 Idea People vs. ⚙️ Execution People

Here’s a simple way to spot where you might land. Neither is better, love bug, and both are essential!

Idea people tend to:

• Have lots of visions, concepts, or half-started projects

• Feel energized by brainstorming but drained by following through

• Say “I just need someone who can help me bring this to life”

• Struggle with deadlines unless there’s external accountability

Execution people tend to:

• Feel most confident when they have a clear plan or roadmap

• Thrive on systems, timelines, and seeing a project through

• Enjoy crossing things off the list (yep, even the smallest tasks)

• Often get overwhelmed when there’s “too many” ideas at once

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📝 Quick Self-Check

Read the following statements and notice which side feels more like you:

1. When I get a new idea, my first instinct is to…

   1. Write it down and dream about all the possibilities

   2. Break it into steps and ask, “when can I start?”

2. My biggest frustration is…

   1. I can’t seem to finish what I start

   2. I wish I had more big-picture ideas to work on

3. In group projects, I usually end up being…

   1. The visionary who paints the picture

   2. The organizer who makes sure we hit the deadline

👉🏾 Mostly A’s? You’re likely an Idea Person.

👉🏾 Mostly B’s? You’re probably an Execution Person.

👉🏾 A mix of both? Ooh, you’re a hybrid! But even hybrids usually lean one way over the other.

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🌿 My Personal Take

I’ve been both the idea person and the execution person, and a lot of times I still am (although I lean more heavily into the latter). However, when I recognize I don’t have the time, energy, or resources to execute certain ideas to my standards, I let myself honor that.

I know I can:

• push back the timeline

• call in help

• or sit down with myself and say “hey let’s revisit this another time”

That shift from shame (“why can’t I just do it all myself?”) to collaboration or even just letting go has been one of the most freeing lessons of my career so far.

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🔥 Here’s Your Fire

If you’ve been sitting on ideas that never see the light of day, this is not the space to beat yourself up. It’s the space to find some clarity:

• If you’re an Idea Person, who can you partner with or hire to help you execute?

• If you’re an Execution Person, where can you connect with visionaries who need your skills?

• If you’re unsure, can you use this moment to notice your patterns and lean into what works best for you?

Remember: you don’t have to be everything. You just have to know your lane and then move boldly in it.

If this letter moved you and you’re ready for deeper clarity on your brand, your strengths, and your next career or business move, I’d love to invite you into The Brand Portal—my 60-minute intensive where we silence all the noise and design a plan you can actually stick to.

🔗 Book The Brand Portal here

That’s all for now. Please subscribe so you don’t miss future reflections & share with a friend who’s trying to figure out their lane.

With love and excellence,

Ty

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