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1720 sats \ 4 replies \ @Car 29 Mar freebie \ on: Do you use a framework when coming up with creative ideas? Design
My biggest problem is I always have too many ideas in my head. Most of the time, I write them down and wait to see if they return.
Often times, I will give them away to people who are working on similar things, even when it’s a great one I want to get to someday, took me a long time to come to terms with this. I firmly believe now that being a facilitator of ideas is far more important than keeping them to yourself. This just reaffirms why I believe more ideas come to me lately.
Idea generation is a ton of fun in a room with a whiteboard, no doubt. But I’ve learned doing PlebLab for these many years it's much better to bring thought-out ideas to the surface before this, especially if it's something new.
Let me explain…
Lately, I have been trying to think through this idea I have had for a year, initially last year, when I would think about it, I couldn't visualize it. It stumped me; the longer I thought about it, it bothered me. It also wasn’t an idea that I know I needed to do because it was “a nice to have.” So I shelved it in my head. Had someone came up to me during that time with a similar idea I would have gave it to them to do. But it never happened.
However, late last year, when I was listening to the advice of a lot of new people that came into my life, I began taking what they were telling me at face value. Because it was something I heard before, just said different.
Again, I went back to looking at this idea again. With new information and time passing, I can now visualize how it will look in my head and possibly play out in a few different scenarios without backstops...now in March, it is starting to feel right as things have just naturally fallen into place for this idea to come to life. Again will see only time will tell, thing is not to force things with ideas. Let it flow naturally.
So to recap three things I've learned when coming up with ideas before shelving them.
- Look for the signs.
This is important when optimizing for understanding if it's the right time. Let it flow. God will always naturally guide you to the place your supposed to be.
- Do the hard research and find key data to support this idea.
This will help so much when having to explain to others and give you some peace of mind. But ultimately it’s good to have the data to back up a lot of the “flow state” process. Aquinas often used the metaphor of a two-story building to illustrate this concept. I’ve written more about it here.
- Make sure it excites and scares you at the same time.
This one I just learned to trust more and more especially in the last year. I used to avoid big ideas that did this to me, but now, not so much.
- Inception
Before going through with any idea talk about it with people who want to help you tear it down while it’s still in a dream state. It’s the only way to see if the idea is firmly planted in your mind. This will be helpful when you finally go through with it.
Hope this helps, honestly this is the stuff me and @k00b talk about all the time.
Thank you for taking the time to type so comprehensively n share so generously about your process. I think I gathered certain insights that I cannot glean from books:
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It’s generous of you to give away ideas. I think you need to acquire a certain level of confidence before you can do that. To dispel the fear that you will run out of ideas if you share so openly with others. But now I see it as a wise thing to do. The flow of ideas is like a tap. 🚰 You need to ensure that you don’t unwittingly stop the flow by hoarding ideas.
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Some ideas take time to germinate. I’m rather impressed by how you stayed patient and stuck with that idea for a year. I would probably have moved on to something else if I were you. You remind me that it’s not the end of the world if I cannot expand on an idea now. I need not get flustered. With time comes experience - and there will come a time in which the half-baked idea gets stirred by Life towards completion.
Thanks!
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Your welcome!
I am actually working on a Thriller post for a few weeks now around some lessons I’ve learned this past year that I am looking to share. As a founder the sharing of these ideas can save a lot of us time and money. My friend Andre just wrote an amazing post around lessons he learned. It’s so good, def check out!
I think you need to acquire a certain level of confidence before you can do that.
💯 my biggest problem is sometimes my confidence comes off as arrogance. Still working on this.
I honestly think now it’s a whole another level of talent that can remain humble while also displaying this level of confidence. My friend @supertestnet is this way.
The flow of ideas is like a tap. 🚰
🎯 things really start taking off for you when you approach your creative endeavors this way.
Some ideas take time to germinate. I’m rather impressed by how you stayed patient and stuck with that idea for a year.
Yes low-time preference building is the way. When I was young this was not the case.
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Thanks for sharing. I devoured the 40 slides. What struck me most was how one can forgo work-life balance when he is truly obsessed about something. Guess I need to find my obsession haha