Do you have an idea?
How often do you have ideas — great ideas, and fail to act on them?
As a people ideas come to us almost every minute, anywhere -- for instance, while taking a coffee or tea break, reading a newspaper, chatting with family and friends, and yes, even when having a shower...
The time or place is really irrelevant. However, what is relevant is: How many of you act on these ideas?
Unfortunately, a few to many of the ideas we have pass away almost as quickly as they come. The underlying question is why? One of the answers to this reoccurring question I have found is fear.
Dwelling on possible risks
One always seems to weigh the obstacles of running with an idea, any idea. Of course, you even tend to weigh things more when they are not going according to plan or some unforeseen dilemma arises. The setback is once you stop to weigh the consequences, it restricts you from pushing forward. In other words, in business, dwelling on problems or probable obstacles only hinders success. On the other hand, accessing possible risks and finding tangible solutions, in addition to careful planning and research plus taking that ‘leap' into the unknown can often yield success.
This does not mean that challenges will not crop up and things may not work out the way you've planned sometimes, but like I always say...“cross that bridge when you come to it.” The key here is acting on ‘ideas.' Most of us complain about life, when we have been naturally equipped with the resources as well as tools (of the mind) to better our circumstances. In essence, you have what it takes to be successful - enthusiasm, dedication, drive, inspiration, and innovation!
“Funny, I once had that idea”
How often have you heard yourself say, “Funny, I once had that idea, a few years ago?” Ideas that you let ‘sit,' either become forgotten, obsolete or interestingly developed by someone else, somewhere else, whom - might I add - had the balls to run with it.
Sometimes you've even moved past the idea stage, began to conceptualize, and perhaps made a few calls. But then, just like a beautiful freshly cut flower...it withers away after a few weeks. Don't just make a few calls, make as many calls as possible -- see the idea through.
Two heads are better than one
Talk to your peers, colleagues, family members and friends, even mentors, and see what they think about your ideas. You will be amazed what good advice and insight some of them have to offer. As the saying goes “two heads are better than one.” Brainstorming brings ideas to life. It also reduces fear and boosts confidence. Moreover, as human beings we often seek approval from others, thus knowing that there are people (close to us) who support our ideas and visions can help heighten our assurance.
That said, there might be times when support from those we love may not be forthcoming, I say if you feel it in your gut and you truly believe it will work, run with it. Do not let fear get in the way. It's better to have tried, than not to have tried at all.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again
Oliver Goldsmith once said, “Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
You may have one or two bad experiences in the past after investing quite a lot of time and money trying out an idea. This does not mean you should give up, quite the contrary, “If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.” While this may sound so cliché, unfortunately it's the harsh reality of life. If every time you tried something and failed, plus decided to quit, you would have learnt nothing. Succeeding in life does not come from not making mistakes or failing, but rather from learning from mistakes and “failures.” One good way is finding out what exactly caused you to fail, this could help in future should you encounter the same situation or something similar.
So as bleak as this might sound - ‘put your past failures behind you and keep pushing ahead.'
“Winning ideas?”
You will find that not all ideas are “practical,” nonetheless you can almost always tell which ones are worth developing. The point is, don't be afraid to express whatever ideas spring into your mind, no matter how stupid. Usually it is the so-called stupid ideas that turn out to be groundbreakers.
Developing ideas in business, no doubt, involves a certain amount of risks, but doesn't everything in life? Principally, we choose to baulk at creative ideas, both in our personal and professional lives, because of fear. My motto has always been if fear is the one reason stopping you from doing something, anything at all, then do it... It has never failed me to date.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
As a people ideas come to us almost every minute, anywhere -- for instance, while taking a coffee or tea break, reading a newspaper, chatting with family and friends, and yes, even when having a shower...
The time or place is really irrelevant. However, what is relevant is: How many of you act on these ideas?
Unfortunately, a few to many of the ideas we have pass away almost as quickly as they come. The underlying question is why? One of the answers to this reoccurring question I have found is fear.
Dwelling on possible risks
One always seems to weigh the obstacles of running with an idea, any idea. Of course, you even tend to weigh things more when they are not going according to plan or some unforeseen dilemma arises. The setback is once you stop to weigh the consequences, it restricts you from pushing forward. In other words, in business, dwelling on problems or probable obstacles only hinders success. On the other hand, accessing possible risks and finding tangible solutions, in addition to careful planning and research plus taking that ‘leap' into the unknown can often yield success.
This does not mean that challenges will not crop up and things may not work out the way you've planned sometimes, but like I always say...“cross that bridge when you come to it.” The key here is acting on ‘ideas.' Most of us complain about life, when we have been naturally equipped with the resources as well as tools (of the mind) to better our circumstances. In essence, you have what it takes to be successful - enthusiasm, dedication, drive, inspiration, and innovation!
“Funny, I once had that idea”
How often have you heard yourself say, “Funny, I once had that idea, a few years ago?” Ideas that you let ‘sit,' either become forgotten, obsolete or interestingly developed by someone else, somewhere else, whom - might I add - had the balls to run with it.
Sometimes you've even moved past the idea stage, began to conceptualize, and perhaps made a few calls. But then, just like a beautiful freshly cut flower...it withers away after a few weeks. Don't just make a few calls, make as many calls as possible -- see the idea through.
Two heads are better than one
Talk to your peers, colleagues, family members and friends, even mentors, and see what they think about your ideas. You will be amazed what good advice and insight some of them have to offer. As the saying goes “two heads are better than one.” Brainstorming brings ideas to life. It also reduces fear and boosts confidence. Moreover, as human beings we often seek approval from others, thus knowing that there are people (close to us) who support our ideas and visions can help heighten our assurance.
That said, there might be times when support from those we love may not be forthcoming, I say if you feel it in your gut and you truly believe it will work, run with it. Do not let fear get in the way. It's better to have tried, than not to have tried at all.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again
Oliver Goldsmith once said, “Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
You may have one or two bad experiences in the past after investing quite a lot of time and money trying out an idea. This does not mean you should give up, quite the contrary, “If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.” While this may sound so cliché, unfortunately it's the harsh reality of life. If every time you tried something and failed, plus decided to quit, you would have learnt nothing. Succeeding in life does not come from not making mistakes or failing, but rather from learning from mistakes and “failures.” One good way is finding out what exactly caused you to fail, this could help in future should you encounter the same situation or something similar.
So as bleak as this might sound - ‘put your past failures behind you and keep pushing ahead.'
“Winning ideas?”
You will find that not all ideas are “practical,” nonetheless you can almost always tell which ones are worth developing. The point is, don't be afraid to express whatever ideas spring into your mind, no matter how stupid. Usually it is the so-called stupid ideas that turn out to be groundbreakers.
Developing ideas in business, no doubt, involves a certain amount of risks, but doesn't everything in life? Principally, we choose to baulk at creative ideas, both in our personal and professional lives, because of fear. My motto has always been if fear is the one reason stopping you from doing something, anything at all, then do it... It has never failed me to date.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
