Inspired ideas can come to you in many ways. They could be a brilliant flash that seems to magically arrive in your mind from your subconscious, the superconscious, or God, depending on your beliefs. When acted on immediately, they can prove to be quite rewarding both in experience and financially. An inspired idea can lead to a new business direction and can make all the difference in the world. The key is to do something the moment you get the idea – take action – to commit yourself to the idea. If I am unable to act on it straight away, like when I am jogging or driving, I like to use the task functionality of my Windows mobile to set an alarm for a time when I know I will be able to. Otherwise I will make a call, send an email a text, or anything that commits me to the idea.
Now there are other ideas, those that are brought to you. These are the ones that others have had and you become part of because of their inspired action. Sometimes these ideas can be so well developed that they are ready to drop directly in to your business, or build a business around and start making you money. The best part is because they are brand new to you, they have often never been attempted in your industry before. The challenge is recognising the opportunity for what it is, rather than something that is too good to be true and being frozen in inaction like a deer in headlights while the opportunity passes by.
It is easy to let our inner critic start picking at a new idea because it is unknown and unproven, and sometimes we talk us out of a brilliant and inspired idea that proposes to make us millions in sales. How do we determine when it is a brave step that is required rather than the easier choice of inaction? We can foolishly compare the new idea to what we have always done and because we have nothing to measure it against it is easier to put it in the too hard basket. A quote that a friend of mine reminded recently which I like “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.” Do you like what you are getting?
I believe it is critical to be open to inspired ideas, especially in my game. Inspired ideas are what change your life. The more you are open to these ideas and the more you do something with them, the more inspired ideas that you will get. I’d love to hear your ideas. Who knows, we may be the catalyst that transforms your idea into reality.
