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Idea Status Guide

Overview

Trajecta 2.0 introduces the ability to set statuses against ideas. This guide explains what idea statuses are, why they exist, and how to use them effectively.

What are idea statuses?

Idea statuses are a simple way to track the lifecycle of an idea over time.

Unlike achievements — which are logged after something has happened — ideas are captured as they come to you. Most ideas don’t become actions immediately. Some never do. Idea statuses exist to make that process visible.

Each idea can be in one of the following states:

  • New – Logged, but not acted on yet
  • Active – Being worked on
  • Succeeded – Tried and had a successful outcome
  • Failed – Tried, but didn’t work
  • Abandoned – Intentionally stopped before completion

Together, these statuses describe where an idea is in its journey — from spark to outcome (or a conscious decision to stop).

Why track idea statuses?

Without statuses, ideas tend to pile up. You capture them, but over time it becomes unclear:

  • Which ideas need attention
  • Which ones you’re actively working on
  • Which ones you’ve already tried
  • Which ones you decided not to pursue

Tracking statuses turns a loose list of ideas into a working system.

Key benefits include:

  • Clarity – Instantly see what’s new vs in progress
  • Follow-through – Marking an idea as Active is a clear decision to act
  • Learning – Failed and abandoned ideas capture context and reasoning
  • Insight – Over time, you can see how many ideas you generate, act on, and complete

Ideas become measurable, not just inspirational.

Ideas vs achievements

It’s important to separate ideas from achievements.

  • Achievements are logged after the fact and are useful later for resumes, performance reviews, and reflection.
  • Ideas are logged in the moment and may require time, experimentation, or iteration.

Many ideas never turn into achievements — and that’s expected. Idea statuses acknowledge this reality and help you manage ideas as inputs, not outcomes.

How to use idea statuses (example)

Let’s say you log the following idea:

“Improve stand-up meetings by reducing status updates and focusing on blockers.”

1. New

You log the idea as soon as it comes to you. No action yet — it’s simply captured.

2. Active

You decide to act on it.
You mark it as Active and add a note such as:

“Mentioned this in stand-up and suggested a format change. Waiting for team feedback.”

3. Succeeded

The change is adopted and meetings improve.
You mark the idea as Succeeded and optionally note what worked.

Alternative outcomes

  • Failed
    You tried it, but it didn’t work. Mark it as Failed and explain why. This context is valuable later.

  • Abandoned
    You intentionally stop pursuing the idea. Maybe priorities changed or you realised it wouldn’t work. Mark it as Abandoned and leave a short explanation.

No outcome is wasted — each one closes the loop.

Why this matters long-term

Over time, idea statuses give you insight most people never capture:

  • How many ideas you come up with
  • How many you act on
  • How many succeed or fail
  • Where ideas tend to stall

Ideas stop being a cluttered backlog and become a system you can review, learn from, and improve.

Ready to try Trajecta 2.0?

Track ideas, capture progress, and build a clear record of your career over time.

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