Here is what I know for sure about how big ideas grow:
- Big ideas are like icebergs. The casual observer only sees what is floating at the surface and not the depth of what is happening and changing below. Therefore a casual observers input is valuable because of what can be seen.
- The effort you put into your ideas will be pure fun at first. And eventually will require you to sacrifice something. This will lead you to some pain and will be less fun. So you better love the work and your idea enough to want to endure it.
- The thing about pain is that it is not at all easy to endure alone. This is why so many people give up on their ideas. We all need to find the resources, education, partners or funding we need to keep moving forward. This is why we need a trusted tribe of creative givers and matchers. (No bottomless takers allowed.) Ideas need support to grow. And while self-sufficiency is incredible to have, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do everything on your own just because you do. Even cacti need a little bit of water (eventually) to bloom.
- When burn out sets in our big idea implodes. We must avoid burn out at all cost. Burn out = death to our big idea. Therefore we MUST find ways to grow. Stagnation is death to our brilliance.
- The kind of people who support us in our life-friends and family- are not all that likely to want to support ‘seeing us in pain’ for some “crazy idea” that we cannot let go of. And if they do- it will not last forever. This is why our big idea MUST be thought about in terms of how it can make money -AS SOON AS POSSIBLE- so that those who love us can justify our actions to themselves. Peace and harmony are worth the price of having to create commerce- besides the money you will receive.
- Big ideas require being able to keep playing with them until they become a part of who you are and your genius shines through. And to do this we need a trusted tribe of like minded individuals- some of whom ‘have our back’ and will help us to grow. This lowers our cost of entry and speeds up the time it takes to make our big idea come to life and look as if we did it alone.
About Lisa Canning
“Vowels are to words what creativity is to the world~ basic and necessary.”
What motivates you to explore your creativity? Follow me @EntretheArts.
For daily inspiration and creative education join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EntrepreneurTheArts
Need a magic creativity wand? Let’s start with the clarinet and see what it inspires you to dream and do.
Lisa Canning is the founder of Lisa’s Clarinet Shop, IAEOU, the Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship (IAE) and Entrepreneur the Arts.
