Stop Killing Your Own Ideas. Here's How.
Are you killing your ideas before you even let them out? Entrepreneurs need to beware of these top idea killers...
#1 Idea Killer: Fear
"I can't put that out there."
Fear is a false box of protection. It keeps your ideas "safe" and the beauty of your unique creativity limited. You know you're killing your own idea if you're too afraid to even let your idea out into the world.
#2 Idea Killer: Scarcity Mindset
"There's only so much of the pie to go around."
If you're intimidated by the fact that others offer similar products or services as you, and you find yourself getting territorial about it, you might be letting a scarcity mindset kill your ideas!
#3 Idea Killer: Jealousy
"It's not fair they have that x-y-z (name it here) that I wish I had."
Professional jealously looks a whole lot like regular jealousy. It's the inability to rejoice with others when things are going well for them. It's a hyperfocus on what's not going well for you, while simultaneously only noticing the good happening to others. Jealously can be an idea killer!
So what do we do to stop these idea killers?
Glad you asked....
If you're adding to your library, I highly recommend these!
Here's what to do instead. You might recognize these as the three C's we're always talking about!
Create time in your calendar to explore your ideas.
Give yourself space to dream, see what works and what doesn't work. Create fun! Do something fun you've always wanted to try but didn't because you let fear kill the idea.
For me, this looks like Friday afternoons are blocked off for me to spend time in the studio. I love music and have been making time to learn new things.
Collaborate with others.
Many of our best ideas would have never gotten off the ground if we hadn't collaborated with other talented people. There really are enough people to serve in the marketplace. So get out there and share some pie! Recognize your strengths and weaknesses, then seek out those who are strong in your weak spots. See if there's a way you can work together toward a common goal.
For us, we have made it a point to meet other creatives -- especially those in our area. We've collaborated with photographers, drone pilots, code geniuses, videographers, and more!
Celebrate with others when you see something good happening!
We can all be our own worst critic, so when you see a fellow business owner winning at something – celebrate with them! And be sure to celebrate your own wins, too. (Here's 3 Ways to Celebrate the Wins in Your Small Business).
For us, we try to take a breath once a quarter to look back at what we've accomplished, then plan ahead for the next few months. Just like goals are supposed to be "SMART" (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound), your celebration for reaching those goals needs to be, too!
I talked all about ideas in a recent workshop. If you missed it, you can catch the recording.
During my workshop at the South Texas Regional Training Center, I shared stories to get your wheels turning, inspiring you to give space for both having and implementing your new, big ideas in your life and your business.
If you missed it, you can watch the recording now HERE.
You'll laugh, you might sing, and I know you will get tons of inspiration. This is especially great for small business owners, dreamers, and doers – and you're welcome to share the link with the business owners you know.
When you're ready to tackle your website or marketing project, please book a call to see if we're a good fit.
