It’s shocking how protective the creative class can get about an idea. So many creative people treat their ideas like it’s the last one they will ever have, or at least the last good one. We get so paranoid about our ideas that we hide them, guard them, and rarely let them ever see the light of day. Ironically enough, most of these ideas have some element of being borrowed, stolen, or adapted anyway. The truth is, there are two things that we should always count on when it comes to our ideas:
- 1. We can stop protecting our ideas because we will have more. Our best ideas are always ahead of us. As creative people, we are always coming up with ideas. It’s what we do. The more we use our creative muscle and practice coming up with ideas, the stronger, better, and more powerful our creation process and ideas become. We should never buy the lie that our best ideas are behind us. If we are breathing and have the ability to create, the potential exists for us to come up with our absolute best stuff – TODAY and TOMORROW! We should stop wasting so much of our energy on protecting an idea and start to focus more energy on executing that great idea, an idea that might change the world.
- 2. We can stop protecting our ideas because very few people have the hustle necessary to make those ideas come to life. One of the most amazing things about an idea is that it usually has your DNA embedded inside it. The creator of an idea understands its unique character; a character that only those closest associated to the idea understand. They see how it should be executed and to whom it will matter – the most important parts. Further, the creator of the idea brings their own filter, experience, and history to the idea. No one else has that back story to apply to the idea. The best someone else can do is imitate it. Finally, the hustle we bring to our ideas is uniquely our own. Hustle is not just the work, it’s the approach we bring to the work. In this case, it’s the unique approach we bring and our plan to take over the world with these most amazing new ideas!
So, stop freaking out. Stop being so paranoid. You are creative. You create stuff. Start sharing your ideas. Start collaborating. Rather than being an idea hoarder, start being free with ideas. Share them. Give them away. Start helping other people come up with better ideas. The more we intentionally act freely with ideas, the faster the next idea gets a chance to be birthed, developed, and executed.
Do you battle protecting your ideas or do you live free and share ideas? Why?
Most of the time I live pretty freely with my ideas & how I express them. This is all due to the fact that we (the leadership of the church where I serve) has created an environment where people both on & off the creative team are able to safely express their ideas, knowing that they may or may not be put into action.
I can’t imagine how many ideas my wife would have to hear if I didn’t serve in this kind of environment.
“The more we use our creative muscle and practice coming up with ideas, the stronger, better, and more powerful our creation process and ideas become.” – This is SO GOOD. And I think we need to actively seek out opportunities and environments where ideas can grow.
I loved this. Thanks for the reminder, Brewster!
Man. Brilliant post. Very necessary reminder for the creative class.
Good thoughts. Just finished the book, “Making Ideas Happen” that touches on this aspect as well. If you haven’t yet, pick it up. Very good read.
long time no talk bro!!
Very true. If you don’t have more hustle to do your idea than the person you are telling, that should tell you something. Let it find a happy home.
Why you gotta preach at me?! 🙂
Great thought-provoking stuff! I think I’m free with my ideas, almost to a fault maybe. I think the fear comes when I lack the ability to fully express my idea or when my idea gets implemented wrong or halfheartedly. The key, I think, is to have an open audience who wants to hear your ideas with a true heart to understand. Such a relationship is built of trust and mutual respect and should be an ongoing conversation.
Interesting post, Stephen. I agree with the principle, but it’s making me feel a little schizophrenic. I currently have one project that I’m going close to 100% this direction, and I have one that I’m going just about 100% the opposite.
Let’s see if I can articulate the difference.
When I rely on being paid for my unique, creative ideas, that puts me into a scarcity economy. I do need to protect my ideas. If my client or collaborators take my ideas, even unintentionally, they turn into my competitors, and that’s miserable.
When we deploy a Kingdom mentality, however, and are hoping for broad collaboration, then we are working in an abundance economy. We profit most from being as open and inviting as humanly possible.
Having said all that, if there isn’t a culture of support within a church (or organisation, etc.), then idea-sharing is risky at best. If you working with people who have competing agendas, or who are highly concerned who’s going to get the credit (or blame!) then a collaborative person is set up to go through the shredder. I explored this phenomenon in a recent post on ThisGetsAmazing (my collaborative project): http://goo.gl/TnJ9f