Ideas and Alibis
Ideas and alibis are very much alike. Everyone has plenty of both. Some are good, and some are bad. The big difference is that while no one has a problem using alibis, very few are willing to consistently act on their ideas (me included).
Excuses, Excuses
There are several reasons why people tend to pass on acting on their own ideas. Some of the major ones are fear of criticism, fear of failure, self-doubt, or the feeling that there is not enough time. Based on these reasons, we can come up with a multitude of alibis for not pursuing these ideas.
One that I commonly use is that the “time is not right”. I often tell myself that I should wait on acting on my ideas until sometime where the circumstances are better aligned for it. Sometime in the future when I have more of the knowledge necessary or where I have more time available to me; that’s when I’ll move forward on my ideas.
The fact though, is that postponing ideas quickly becomes a habit. The truth is, there will always be more research that could be done, and there will always be distractions that make us feel like we don’t have the time to act. Acting on an idea will always expose yourself to criticism, and there is always the chance that the idea will not be perceived as a success. If we keep waiting until the circumstances are “just right”, we’ll be putting that idea in a perpetual holding state, until either we decide not to act on it at all, or someone else has already beaten us to it.
Make Your Ideas Count
At least by acting on those ideas, we make them count for something. They may not be met with an extraordinary amount of success, and occasionally they may even be met with flat out failure (though I believe that if you really go after your idea with vigor, true failure will occur very infrequently). For each non-successful idea you have and pursue, that is one more lesson you’ve learned and one more step you’ve taken towards making your next idea meet with greater success.
The conclusion then, is that ideas were meant to be pursued, not postponed. Quit coming up with excuses and start moving forward on those ideas and goals that you’ve been putting off. If you never try any of them, it is a certainty that none of them will work out. By pursuing them, at least you give them the chance.
5 Smart Things Were Said
04/23/2009
Tim, you’re absolutely right! Too often have I found myself doing the exact same thing. For me, as a designer, I think a lot of it has to do with the constant worry that once I put something out there (a blog, a design, a work of art) it’s ripe for criticism. I think sometimes we can internalize a lot of that, which can lead to fear of releasing anything until it’s absolutely polished, clean, and finished.
One of the most intangible, and hardest lessons to learn is that it’s completely okay to falter, fail or be criticized. For me, at least, it’s those failing moments when I learn the most about myself and my work.
Great post!
04/23/2009
Tim, whatever it is go for it, and even if the first idea or first couple ideas are failures, you’ll learn something of value. Lately I have been hearing a lot that the person who continually goes for their ideas with eventually find success. Its all about persistence and a willingness to learn from your mistakes.
04/24/2009
Thanks for the great comments guys!
You are both dead-on about the value of continuing to plow ahead, even in the face of potential failure. Failing and making mistakes is an important step in improving your skills and talents, and shows an effort to grow.
04/28/2009
Tim, I can’t agree more. I would also like to add however, that its not a bad idea to keep a journal or something to keep track of your ideas. Often times I find myself having ideas in spurts one after another but not necessarily related. I obviously don’t have enough time to try them all out at once (because usually they’re ideas for complete applications not just a new design necessarily) and I usually find myself days later saying ‘What was I thinking about the other day?’ Journals or diaries of some sort are a great way to keep track of those ideas. Using an online journal might be a consideration so that other people can help you with your ideas or give you feedback on what you might be doing wrong. Online journals could also be a great way to start a collaborative project.
05/6/2009
@Jordan – Journals are a great way to keep track of ideas! A very popular technique, and a very good one, is to take that a step further, and keep a sketchbook that acts as both a journal for your thoughts, and a place to sketch out ideas and designs. Jason Santa Maria just posted a nice article (very well designed as well) on sketchbooks. Definitely worth a read if you’ve got a few minutes.