Picture used with permission
of David Singer

We’ve spent a lot of time in our 12-Step Creativity Program talking about “ideas.” We’ve discussed how to brainstorm for ideas, the importance of an idea partner, how to start with one idea and expand on that simple thought, and more.

In Day #11, you also need to remember . . .

1. To write all of your ideas down. Buy an idea journal. If you forget a jewel of an idea, what a loss that will be! Carry the journal with you everywhere. You may be most creative while driving down the road, so have your journal with you so you can jot down your ideas at the next red light.

2. To categorize your ideas. What can you do now? What is most important to you? What is in your 5-year plan? What ideas might need to be tweaked to work now?

3. To think big. If you think small, you’ll get small results. If you think BIG, you’ll get BIG results or at least somewhere in between.

4. Not all ideas will work. But if you’re afraid to have ideas, you’ll be stuck where you are now, frozen with fear, never moving forward. “Go getters” take chances. Do you think all of Walt Disney’s ideas worked? Of course not. When they didn’t, he picked himself up, dusted off his britches, and came up with more ideas. Have all of Bill Gates’ ideas worked? I’m sure he would tell you “no.” But innovators keep on going. That’s what you’ll do too. Come up with more ideas. Always move forward.

5. Not to go on foolhardy wild goose chases. Ideas are fantastic, but be able to distinguish between scams and real opportunities.

6. Where to use your ideas. Create new pages of content to capitalize on your ideas, when appropriate. For example, if you have an online book store and your idea is to set up some online writers’ support groups, you could set up a calendar of events, a page for each support group (romance writers, nonfiction writers, mystery writers, etc.), pages where the writers could help write a story together, calendars promoting local support groups, workshops written by members, etc.

7. To protect your “killer” ideas. You may have the tendency to share your ideas, which is only natural. Regretfully, if you talk too much about it, you may find your “killer” idea being used by your competitor. I’ve learned from past experience to keep ideas within a very tight circle. I strongly encourage you to do the same. Ideas can’t be copyrighted.

However, you want to be the first to do something. The Web doesn’t need another toolbar. Come up with an original idea and don’t advertise it until you have it ready to go.

Today’s Assignment:

Buy an idea journal. Write down all of your ideas and categorize them.

Remember: think BIG!

Robin