ideas

The Teaser of Uniqueness

In 1947, a businessman from Idaho named Kenneth Arnold reported seeing nine strange disks of light in the sky while flying above the Cascade Mountains in the US.

While his experience wasn?t the first time unexplained objects had been recorded, it was the first time that they were recognized as alien craft. The myth of the UFO was born.

In 1934, one of the most famous photographs in supernatural or unexplained history was taken by Colonel Robert Wilson in Scotland.

Showing what looked like the head and neck of a plesiosaur-type dinosaur, it brought the legend of Nessie the Loch Ness monster to the attention of the world.

What do these two stories, and more like them, have in common? Simple ? the promise of something fantastic that captures the attention of millions worldwide.

While they may or may not have some grounding in fact, what can?t be denied is that they both sparked conversation, interest and tourism to their relative areas that is still fervent today.

In other words, they built interest and started a huge viral chain reaction before viral was even used.

By offering a glimpse and nothing more, they let peoples’ imaginations take over and built an industry around what was perceived, rather than what was.

It’s that teaser of something that can be unique for everyone, depending on their take, that can be the bridge between you and your audience.

You just need to start laying the cement.

The Difference Between Ideas and Doing

A few years back, I knew a guy who always had a great idea up his sleeve.

He?d share these ideas with anyone that was in his company, and tell of his grand plans for when his ideas made him rich. They would invariably involve?Salma Hayek, a yacht and six months at sea?

Everyone smiled and asked him not to forget us when he was rich and famous. After all, we were the sounding boards for his ideas and we?d say which ones sounded good, and which ones wouldn?t get him Salma.

Jump forward a few years, and needless to say he?s not dating Salma Hayek for six months of the year. Nor does he have his yacht, or his millions in the bank. The last I heard, he was a baker in a small village just outside of London in the U.K.

Not that there?s anything wrong with that. He?s making an honest living, and keeping a roof over his head. But knowing his mind and ambition, I can?t help but feel he?d be a little disappointed that his grand plans never came to fruition.

And there?s one simple reason.?While he talked a great talk about ideas and plans, he never followed through on them.

Never.

Instead, his great ideas remained just that ? ideas. Pipe dreams that could have been great had he taken just one of them and attempted to do it. But he didn?t. Instead, he chose to live anonymously, if you like, and remain ?that guy with the ideas.?

Again, there?s nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.

But ask yourself one question, if you?re currently thinking great ideas ? what will you do next?

If it?s for a business, there are a ton of resources available for you, both online and offline. Google is your friend online, and your local?Chamber of Commerce?(or equivalent) is your friend offline.

If it?s for a product, and you want to test run it first, why not try something like?Etsy?to start with (or the equivalent for your product?s niche)? Again, Google is your friend ? use it to find sites to sell your product with little investment.

If you?re looking for feedback?to see if your idea is needed, set up your version of customer satisfaction?listening posts?and see what people are saying. If there are a lot of complaints and not a lot of resolutions, that?s an immediate in.

If you want to write a book, there are a host of self-publishing platforms available, like?Blurb?and?Lulu. Better still, write an ebook and sell it through your own blog or website.

The main point is, there are a ton of folks with great ideas. But many never make it past the idea stage.

So, the question remains.

What will?you?do next?

Image:?k-ideas

The Difference Between Ideas and Doing

A few years back, I knew a guy who always had a great idea up his sleeve.

He’d share these ideas with anyone that was in his company, and tell of his grand plans for when his ideas made him rich. They would invariably involve Salma Hayek, a yacht and six months at sea…

Everyone smiled and asked him not to forget us when he was rich and famous. After all, we were the sounding boards for his ideas and we’d say which ones sounded good, and which ones wouldn’t get him Salma.

Jump forward a few years, and needless to say he’s not dating Salma Hayek for six months of the year. Nor does he have his yacht, or his millions in the bank. The last I heard, he was a baker in a small village just outside of London in the U.K.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. He’s making an honest living, and keeping a roof over his head. But knowing his mind and ambition, I can’t help but feel he’d be a little disappointed that his grand plans never came to fruition.

And there’s one simple reason.

While he talked a great talk about ideas and plans, he never followed through on them.

Never.

Instead, his great ideas remained just that – ideas. Pipe dreams that could have been great had he taken just one of them and attempted to do it. But he didn’t. Instead, he chose to live anonymously, if you like, and remain “that guy with the ideas.”

Again, there’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.

But ask yourself one question, if you’re currently thinking great ideas – what will you do next?

If it’s for a business, there are a ton of resources available for you, both online and offline. Google is your friend online, and your local Chamber of Commerce (or equivalent) is your friend offline.

If it’s for a product, and you want to test run it first, why not try something like Etsy to start with (or the equivalent for your product’s niche)? Again, Google is your friend – use it to find sites to sell your product with little investment.

If you’re looking for feedback to see if your idea is needed, set up your version of customer satisfaction listening posts and see what people are saying. If there are a lot of complaints and not a lot of resolutions, that’s an immediate in.

If you want to write a book, there are a host of self-publishing platforms available, like Blurb and Lulu. Better still, write an ebook and sell it through your own blog or website.

The main point is, there are a ton of folks with great ideas. But many never make it past the idea stage.

So, the question remains.

What will you do next?

Image: k-ideas

Ideas Are Gold

Ideas are gold.

Ideas are the platforms for greatness.

Ideas are the moments in time that will find the cure for cancer.

Ideas are the ingredients that become a recipe to feed the world.

Ideas are the words that join a melody and make a grown man cry.

Ideas are the architects that build shelters for the abused.

Ideas are the intent that lead to mission accomplished.

Ideas are gold. Don’t let yours be wasted.

The Power of Ideas

I’ve written before why I’m passionate about creativity being allowed to shine.

Without it, we’d be left in a boring world where only the few would have a say in what we watch, say or do. Companies would be filled with drones, businesses would be drab affairs, and artists would be virtually non-existent.

We wouldn’t have videos like the one below, either, and that would be a shame.

Taking a fantastical look at the cityscape of Toronto, the video shows the immense scope a person has when their creativity is let loose.

Sexy might not always sell when it comes to business – but that doesn’t mean we can’t mix it up once in a while. Agree?

(For a cool interactive experience, check out the Batelco Infinity Facebook Page. And hat-tip to Randy Matheson for making me aware of the video.)

This post contains a video. If you can’t see it properly in your feed, you can watch it directly here.