Ideas – The Rain and Shine of Creativity
How Ideas Come and How We Sustain Them
Quote:
“Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people throats“
Howard Aiken
My Random Thoughts
We often hear that ideas are everywhere, available to anyone who is open to them. But how do ideas come to us, and more importantly, how do we sustain them? These questions take us on a journey between the physical and metaphysical realms of creativity.
Ideas are much like the blessings that sustain the earth. Just as day & night, rain & sunshine are constants in our lives - gifts that come without bias toward race, gender, religion, or background. And as we can carry an umbrella to block the rain or hide in the shade to avoid the sun, we can also shield ourselves from the downpour of ideas.
The first and most common barrier is an unrenewed mindset. A rejecting mind, one that is closed off due to fear, doubt, or excuses, can prevent the rain of ideas from reaching us. How often do we say things like, "I need to focus on just one thing right now," or "I don’t have the resources to pursue that idea"?
When we block ourselves from receiving ideas, though they may feel valid, we limit the flow of ideas and our potential to innovate. The rain falls, but our mindset stands as an umbrellas, giving no thoughts to the idea or not allowing them to penetrate our thoughts.
If an idea does make it through, the next is sustaining it. This is where the real work begins. Nurturing and birthing an idea is a skill not everyone possesses. We have the “idea people”, yet they have nothing to show for it. Execution is the key.
Like rainwater, ideas need to be converted to be useful. Just as it takes skill and effort to collect rainwater or store sunshine as solar energy, turning an idea into something tangible requires expertise, hard work, and persistence.
To transform an idea into success - whether wealth, art, or innovation - requires more than just inspiration. It requires action, relationships, time, and yes, even money, though money is often the least important capital in the grand scheme of things.
Turning an idea into reality requires effort, skill, and a mindset ready to embrace the work involved. So the next time an idea strikes, ask yourself: Are you ready to get to work with it or store it in your idea bank?Now, Your Turn
Have you ever had an idea you didn’t pursue?
What was holding you back?
How do you nurture the ideas you do choose to develop?
Deeper Dive:
If you're looking to dive deeper into how to harness the power of ideas, here are a few things to consider:
Renew Your Mindset: Be open to new ideas, even if they seem impractical at first. The more you allow yourself to think freely, the more creative ideas will flow.
Capture the Moment: When an idea comes, write it down immediately. Ideas are fleeting, and if not captured, they might drift away.
Nurture with Patience: Not every idea needs to be acted on immediately. Let it sit, nurture it, and give it time to grow. Some ideas require a season to mature.
Take Action: At some point, nurturing an idea needs to give way to action. Begin small but start somewhere. Execution is what separates dreamers from achievers.
P.S.: Feel free to reply, critique, expound and discuss any topic with me at hortharn@substack.com. I am always delighted to reply.
Be Determined, Stay Focus,
Ekerete Lord-kris.
(Hortharn)