Tracking your “ideas tried vs. ideas kept” rate is a practical way to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your creative or decision-making process. It reflects how many ideas you actually implement or keep out of those you explore. Here’s a streamlined method to track and analyze this metric:
1. Define Your Idea Cycle
Clarify what counts as an “idea tried” and an “idea kept.”
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Ideas Tried: Concepts you prototype, test, or explore in some tangible way.
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Ideas Kept: Ideas that move forward into actual use, development, or deployment.
For example:
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In a startup: features brainstormed vs. features launched.
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In writing: headlines drafted vs. headlines used.
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In design: concepts sketched vs. concepts finalized.
2. Set a Tracking System
Use a simple spreadsheet, Notion board, Trello, or task manager with two columns or statuses:
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Tried – once you’ve given the idea a meaningful test.
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Kept – when you decide to continue using or implementing it.
You could structure it like:
| Idea Description | Date Tried | Outcome | Kept (Y/N) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New blog topic strategy | May 1, 2025 | Tested with 3 posts | Y | Boosted engagement |
| Redesign website layout | May 5, 2025 | Mockup built | N | Didn’t improve UX |
3. Calculate Your Rate
Formula:
Ideas Kept ÷ Ideas Tried = Retention Rate (%)
Example:
If you tried 20 ideas in a month and kept 5, your rate is:
5 ÷ 20 = 0.25 → 25%
4. Analyze the Insights
Low rate? It might mean:
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You’re generating lots of speculative or high-risk ideas.
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You’re experimenting widely (which can be good in creative phases).
High rate? It might mean:
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You’re vetting more before trying.
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You’re playing it safe or hitting a creative plateau.
Both extremes can provide valuable feedback depending on your context and goals.
5. Use Trends to Improve
Track over time to:
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Identify which idea sources or types have higher retention.
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Find patterns in what’s working (topic types, formats, styles, markets).
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Improve your ideation process — refining how and where you invest effort.
For example:
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If product feature ideas from user feedback have a 60% keep rate, while internal brainstorms are only 10%, shift your focus accordingly.
6. Share the Metric (if applicable)
If you’re part of a team, sharing this rate can:
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Encourage smarter experimentation.
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Reduce the stigma of “failed” ideas.
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Show progress even when many ideas get scrapped.
Tracking your “ideas tried vs. ideas kept” rate transforms creativity from a vague process into a measurable system. It helps you understand not just how many ideas you have, but how effective your filtering and execution truly are. This self-awareness leads to sharper decisions and more impactful outcomes.