is that none of them are insignificant.

I've noticed that the simplest statements/concepts that we encounter, are the deepest when you actually view their practical manifestation. Today, when 3 years of my perseverance with an idea has yielded rich dividends, my belief in this line is reinforced.

Ideas are a function of time. If your idea is an anachronism today, maybe it needs incubation time. If your idea is outdated today, maybe it needs a different perspective. 

Commonality in ideas should never act as a barrier to entry. As an ideator, I don't think I should care about the question - "Hey, this is so simple, how come noone else has come up with it till now?" 

Passion - the most critical element of an idea. It is only when you are passionate about it that you will be able to ignite that passion amidst recipients. Formal presentations and innovative marketing/advertising ideas that drive home the idea are plain facilitators. 

Crispness lends easy acceptance to an idea. My idea might have 15 different impact areas. But in an elevator pitch, I want to focus on those 1 or 2  pain-points of the recipient that would get me that 'Aha, I might need this - meet me tomorrow' response.

Mitigating pain-points is one aspect. Scratching itches is another. 

While mitigating pain-points requires a medication, mitigation process, scratching an itch just requires you to be there by the recipients side, identify his itching area in very quick time and give him a good scratch. Trust me, you cannot imagine what comfort it will give your recipient.

The presence of both - short-term and long term alleviators is what makes ideas win. Best way to define short-term and long-term alleviators, put yourself in the shoes of the recipients/clients.

Have you ever scratched your own itch? Feels extremely comforting doesn't it? Why? Its because you exactly know where to insert that pen/pencil/long object at unreachable places where it itches. Effectively you know the length of the object and the angle in which you need to insert it to comfort yourself.

If I were to draw an analogy, you exactly know what your idea/product/prototype should address. Address that 'what'.

Look at ideas as life changers - not as buck-earners.

An idea can surely change your life - but its only when through the idea, you try to change other's lives. 

Cheers.