Now what?
Oftentimes in the idea development process, we hit a wall. There's a great Arab saying that goes, "When you must decide between two difficult choices, choose the third." But how do you even discover a new path when you perceive your options as limited?
This post, we'll look at how to define the nature of the wall (it is usually inside of us) because oftentimes in the process of assessment, ways to sidestep or dissolve the wall become apparent. It's usually when we allow the wall to be vague that it feels enormous and is capable of controlling us.
If we look at this doc project, I cannot do anything about the 2 companies and their positions but when I look at what I can control - my own beliefs about the project - I see clearly a thorn in my side. I have a belief that I need Company B's contacts. I realize this is an opinion and not a fact. Though they are an aspect of the story, they are not the only aspect. I now have a choice instead of a wall.
Look at your idea and write down all the next steps that you can imagine. Take each one and write down your reactions to each step. Which reactions are concrete facts and which are your beliefs?
Someone submitted an idea about filming dowsing meetings because he was interested in capturing the spiritual content there. He asked the question, "What can I do to make this happen?"
Whether or not he has any experience making videos, I believe he has everything he needs to make this idea happen. But his question shows that he believes otherwise. Perhaps he has a specific belief that he is not a cameraman or a more general one like he doesn't know how to do this. This can definitely be paralyzing. But it's not true.
What I would say is track down a mini-DV camera and begin filming the meetings yourself. If nobody has a camera he can borrow, it is possible to rent them affordably in almost every major city. Take that footage and put it on youtube. All of a sudden, he's got a youtube channel on dowsing at very minimal expense.
If the meetings are happening in other cities, put an ad on craigslist or call a local college. There are abundant affordable resources out there that are available now via the internet in a way that is unprecedented. Go on google!
This leads to my second step in dissolving the wall. Usually, it involves learning something. It may be as personal as learning to believe that you can or it may be more concrete like learning how to write a business plan (there are plenty free samples on-line if you look).
I know in my core that we are all capable of learning anything if the motivation is there.
Recently, my toilet started running but the expense of hiring a plumber plus the belief that I could never, ever, no way ever fix it myself held me hostage for days. Finally, worry about my water bill motivated me to call the plumber for an estimate. When he saw the problem, he told me to go to Home Depot. They had a kit, he said. I felt a pang of fear in my gut. Realizing life was telling me that I had to do this myself, I took the plunge and drove to the store. Sure enough, they had a kit there for $20. At home, I followed the directions which were surprisingly straightforward. Empty the water from the tank, remove the broken fill valve, install the new one. Exhilaration is the only word to describe the feeling of that first, successful flush.
For those of you out there who are not afraid of your toilets, this may not seem like a big deal but to me, it was life-changing because it was empowering. (More power is always handy) Although you may not be stopped by plumbing issues, what is stopping you and what do you need to learn to make your dreams come true?
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
1. Write down 10 (or more) possible next steps that need to be taken to move your idea forward.
2. For each step, write down 5 reactions that come up, both positive (I can do this and when you will do it) and negative (I can't because...)
3. Write down 1 thing you need to learn to move your idea forward and how/where you will learn this. Remember, Google is always a great place to start.
4. Post your response, what did you learn from doing this exercise?
Keep creating!
Susie Arnett
Idea Coach
