Back

What a discomfortable idea

Where do you think good ideas come from?

Everybody wants to come up with a brilliant idea that will grow their business, but a lot of people have a huge misconception about how finding that next great idea actually works.

The truth is, good ideas don’t come from a sudden lighting bolt of inspiration, but rather, they come from the end result of a long, difficult process. Rarely is your first idea the best one. Many times, it’s your hundredth idea, or even your five hundredth idea, that really takes your business to the next level.

Still with me? Good. Being brilliant might not be easy – not much that’s worth doing is – but it is simple. So how do you get to that hundredth idea? You have to sit down, get rid of all the distractions in your life, and think.

I find it helpful when you’re thinking to write everything down. There’s no judgment in this phase, so don’t censor yourself. There are no bad ideas now. Anything you come up with, you put on paper.

During this free form brainstorming, there’s going to be a point where you hit the wall. You’re going to think to yourself, “there’s no way I could possibly think of any more ideas.” When you hit that point, keep going. This is where things get good.

Yes, I said keep going. Push past that uncomfortable moment and get out of your conscious mind. When you break down your current walls and go beyond your limitations, that’s when you can get really creative. And the more you explore that space, the further you can go the next time. Take risks, introduce chaos, and jot down ideas that don’t completely make sense.

It’s like how babies learn how to walk. In the beginning, they stumble and fall after just a few steps. But each time they try, they get better little by little, and can go father and farther, until they’re walking on their own, fully comfortable with a process that once never imagined they could do. But it doesn’t stop there. They get older and learn how to run, and run faster and farther, and if they keep at it, who knows? Maybe they’ll become the next Usain Bolt.

Feel like there’s just one thing that’s holding you back from success? This may be the right fit for you…Register for my master class here.

Work with brendan