What to do when you have too many ideas
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(Quick note: I’m hiring for a part-time in-person role here in Springfield, MO. Details in the P.S.) Most people think the hardest part of creativity is having good ideas. But that’s only true in the beginning. Once you get the creative juices flowing, you often end up with more good ideas than you know what to do with. Then the problem becomes choosing which idea to pursue. It’s tough, because choosing one idea means rejecting the rest. Saying yes to anything inherently means saying no to the other possibilities, at least for now. But if you don’t choose an idea, you’re saying no to all of them. When I’m stuck in a situation with more ideas than I have time for, here’s a question that helps me decide: What does this idea want? Some ideas just want to be thought about for a second. They pop into your mind, entertain you for a moment, and then disappear. Some ideas want to be written down. As soon as you put them on paper, they leave you alone. Some ideas want to be discussed. Once you bring them up at a dinner party, they’re content. But other ideas want to be made real. These are the ideas that wake you up in the middle of the night. Those are the ones you should work on. Sometimes these are specific ideas: “I should open my own coffeeshop...” Either way, they’re important, and they’re worth listening to. Because good ideas don’t stay hidden forever. Wait too long, and someone else will have the same idea, run with it, and reap the rewards. Not because they stole it, but because they chose it when you didn’t. If there’s an idea that’s been tapping you on the shoulder for months (or years), that’s not a coincidence. So today, here’s your chance: Choose the idea that won’t leave you alone. You don’t need certainty. -Kyle P.S. I’m hiring a partner-in-crime to help make big creative projects happen.I’m looking for someone local (Springfield, MO) who can help me bring ideas to life. If you love creating order, building systems, and anticipating needs before they become problems, this could be an incredible fit for you. You can read all the details here. And if someone immediately came to mind, I’d love for you to pass this along to them. |
Kyle Scheele
One useful idea about creative leadership, once a week
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