I started my Free Ideas series because I'd come to the conclusion that ideas have a near-zero value unless they are followed by action, perseverance, and some sort of actual product or service.

What I should've said was that seemingly good ideas have these traits. The really valuable ideas (which do still need to be followed by action, etc. in order to have their value realized) are the ones that seem utterly frightening, foolish, or confounding to most people. Paul Graham makes this case convincingly.