Too many ideas, so little time...
Every day I’m struck with new ideas, whether they’re for a new writing project, an article I know that would resonate with a wide audience or something that would help keep my family life flowing. The problem with ideas is that until they are acted upon, they are just ideas – and aren’t worth much more than the thought they were initially given.
So I capture them and then I curate them. Even still, there are a ton left once I’m done evaluating their merit, so the next step is start to do something with them. Then another problem creeps in – idea stagnation. I wind up doing a little bit with each idea, and some are never seen through to completion. It’s an ongoing battle, and it’s something that I’m not alone in.
There’s nothing wrong with having too many ideas. But what you do with them is far more important than just having them. It’s like having a lot of money but not doing anything with it. Sometimes there are just too many options. Choice is good, but too much choice can cause paralysis. If you find that you are an “idea machine” that breaks down once the ideas are supposed to turn into something tangible, there are some things you can do to give yourself a tune-up.
1. Let them simmer until it’s time for your Weekly Review. When you have an idea, write it down. But don’t do anything with it until your Weekly Review day arrives. If the idea occurs to you less than 2 days before your Weekly Review day, don’t do anything with it until the following one. Let the ideas percolate and stand together with everything else you have to do. This will help you gain perspective on the idea in terms of what you can – and can’t – do with it. If it’s something that sits in your Weekly Review for four weeks, drop it. It’s clearly not crucial to you in the grand scheme of things. And besides, if you let it go and comes back to you, then when that happens you’ll know it’s something that you need to act upon.
2. Adopt a mission statement. These come in handy when looking at what ideas you’re coming up with in that they keep you honest. If an idea fits in with the mission statement you’ve adopted, you’ll have a better understanding of whether or not it is something you need to see through to the end. If there are any conflicts with the statement, then it’s not something you’re likely to build – or build well.
3. Create idea buckets. Put all of your ideas in a bucket – and if you’ve got areas of your life that are fundamental to your happiness (such as a passion project, your work, or your family life), then create an idea bucket for each. Every time you have an idea, throw it into the pertinent bucket. When doing your Weekly Review (which you’re doing, right?) take a look at how many of those ideas are sitting in each bucket and how much progress has been made on them. If they are sitting there with no actions attached, it might be time to dump them. This tactic can be used in conjunction with, or as an alternate to, the first tactic mentioned. I use both because once the idea has simmered and it’s something that I’m intending on doing, I’ll put the idea in the corresponding bucket and turn it into a project when the timing is right.
4. Get real. This one is by far the most subjective, as everyone has their own way to do this. I look at all of my stuff (my task management application, my calendar, etc.) and really look at what I have time for. I connect with the ideas that I’m fondest of and know will bring about the most benefit to myself and others. Then I start to cull. I adopt a mindfulness by doing this regularly. I’m not really meditating, but I’m really getting in touch with all that I have on my plate and deciding – really deciding – what can stay and what has got to go. This is the hardest thing to do, usually because more ideas pop into my head while I’m doing it. But the ideas that come to mind during this time rarely stick, as they are usually meant to keep me from the objective at hand: to get real.
One of the best things about having ideas come to you regularly is that you’re never at a shortage of material to work with. But it’s the “working with” part that is the hardest part. Capturing your ideas is great, but thinking on them is what will keep you from being trapped in overwhelm and bringing your ideas to life.
If you’re an idea machine, then learning to separate the projects from the rejects is a skill worth learning. Because an idea on its own isn’t worth very much, and you’re worth so much more than that.
I can certainly related to this article. I often have a lot of ideas that pop up into my head from nowhere. I get excited about them but I’ve learned that once I let them simmer for a bit of time, and see the idea actually on paper, many of them don’t seem so great after awhile. But the exercise is still worth doing since there are always a few that make the cut and if acted upon, turn out to be quite positive. I would much rather go through this process of having to weed out many ideas than not having any come up at all.
Thanks, Clint.
It’s tough because we only have so much time to deal with. Fear of letting go of something that could be great is always a concern, but I figure that if I do “less things more well” rather than “more things less well” (see what I did there?) then i’m better off — as are those who benefit from my ideas coming to life.
By the way, I love your work here — keep it up!
Likewise Mike! I never miss any of your posts.
sweet…I created a FISH BOWL of ideas…I pick and I choose and I go in…
Clear ideas in a clear bowl. I like it.
Just make sure they all don’t drown in there. ;)
Thanks for the comment!
This article has made a tremendous difference to my view on the myriad ideas I conjure up each day. I attach tremendous significance to each idea and brood over those that didn’t churn out in reality. Never before did I think of dissecting my ideas, and decide on those that I might want to pursue further; nor did I think of really measuring up my ideas in terms of a “mission statement.”
This article is actually a gold-mine for “idea machines.”
This is a hard lesson to learn…mainly because we don’t want to let go of our precious ideas. But they’re not previous until they turn into something more. Letting go of some — even the good ones — will give the ones you keep a better chance at a great life.
Thanks for the comment — and keep reading!
J.K. Rowling had so many ideas that she would write them on napkins while riding on trains
I write my ideas on everything. I do not travel anywhere without my Moleskin writing pad and something to write with. I am stickynotedout – seriously. I have sticky notes everywhere. I’ve been out on the town with friends, and I would see something or have an idea of some sort, and I’d write the idea on anything I could find; napkins (that I still have), torn off pieces of paper found on the floor, my hand (which can get a little sticky if you continue to drink – lol), anything I could get my hands on I use to write down my ideas.
@Ryan,I didn’t know that – that’s pretty cool. I’ve heard of quite a few people who do something like that.
And yeah, I’ve heard in a course that an average human gets countless ideas every day that can potentially make his life much better and get him everything he wants. The only problem is we keep dismissing, procrastinating (etc) these ideas and almost fail to even take the first step to make any idea a reality. This is in a bit different context from the original article’s point but it still fits to an extent.
I love this. I am always coming up with something. I’m a very global thinker and my head is not in the details, but in the outcomes. What can I do with that? I know what something is supposed to look like, what it benefits, how it works once it’s in place, I even know how to evaluate/measure it for proficiency, but it’s getting there that is my biggest challenge to date. I really like that FISH BOWL idea. I’m going to start doing that and then incorporating your plan of action. Who knows, I’ll have a working product on my hands in no time. I’m glad I ran across this article.