How often do you say “I have an idea”? Does anyone make a face or groan when you say that? How often do you hear in response, “Now what”? If you are an idea person like I am, you’ll have that scenario play out many times over your lifetime. Some people just have a brain that grows ideas like a unkempt yard grows weeds. We don’t really have control over when or where these ideas will spring forth; they just erupt at any time, in any place. Because we have so many ideas, very few, statistically, actually ever go beyond the initial “I have an idea” phase. It would be next to impossible to act upon them all. But I believe you should at least give consideration to them all.

It can be difficult to act upon an idea that others have scoffed at. Because we generate so many ideas, people tend to scoff at them all, simply because they tire of hearing about them. But don’t let that stop either the flow of ideas, or the consideration of further action upon them. An amazing amount of my ideas that I glossed over later came into existence because someone else had the same idea and acted upon them. Of those, quite a few were not only easy to do, but ended up being highly successful. Those could have been my successes. I’m sure that happens to many of you as well.

Because idea people have an abundance of ideas throughout their lifetime, they tend to forget them pretty quickly. I suggest having an idea book (or file on your computer) in which you record your ideas. You don’t have to write lengthy descriptions. Even a quick sentence or two is usually enough to help you remember them later on. Now you can schedule a time to browse through the list of ideas periodically and see if any jump out at you as being especially good for further thought and possible action. Some people might prefer to place the book on a nightstand for perusal before bed, or in your stack of bathroom reading material. Our minds are cleared for thought during both of those times, so your past ideas could really flourish into incredible plans at that point.

Ignore the pessimists and naysayers, and allow your ideas to flow. Jot them down and give them further thought over time. You may end up being the one with that next big idea that turns into a huge success.

(from Smash Mouth. "AllStar" Astro Lounge. Interscope Records, 1999.)

Posted on July 27th, 2007 by DazzlinDonna
Filed under: Business Development