The Power of an Idea.

I would like to preface this discussion on ideas with a few thoughts for your consideration:

1) Many of my ideas (endeavours, projects, businesses) over the years haven’t worked on a commercial or practical level. But on a personal level, I learned plenty every time because I chose to make that process a lesson. I learned what doesn’t work; an important part of learning what does.

2) I have had, and continue to have, dumb ideas on a regular basis!

3) I strongly believe that people’s propensity to not act on their ideas (dreams, hopes) is, to a large extent, what makes them unhappy, unfulfilled and frustrated.

4) Over my journey I have had more resistance than support for the bulk of my ideas.

A Few Short Stories.
My Personal Training business grew out of an idea I had in 1987 (there were no PT studios in Australia at the time). I wrapped a plan and some action around that idea and it became a living breathing thing which now turns over millions of dollars per year and employs over fifty people.

This website is the result of an idea that was presented to me by a bloke I didn’t know and really didn’t want to talk to; John Hopkins. One year ago (yesterday) I published my first post (article) on craigharper.com. I didn’t really know what I was doing, we had no traffic (visitors to the site), no profile and I had no real understanding of the blogosphere. Next year (2008) we will have (give or take) a million visitors to our site.

My kid’s gym had life breathed into it one day when Sam (now my business partner) and I were having a coffee and throwing around a few ideas; some possibilities for a new business. Eighteen months after that discussion, the business is a reality, we have six employees, over four hundred kids enrolled in our programs, the company (Gecko) has been featured on TV, radio and in the print media and we are now looking for a second venue.
At least twenty people have told me in the last year that “they had the same idea but didn’t act on it…”

My first book ‘Fattitude‘ came out of an idea I had as the result of having the same conversations about the same issues (often with the same people), day in and day out.
“Put it in a book and save your voice”, I thought.
“Then I won’t have to repeat myself a hundred times a week.” Good idea!
I knew nothing about writing, editing or publishing a book but I decided to do it anyway because I believed that people would connect with the message. That decision (to act on that idea) was life-changing for me.

As I’ve said before I don’t share any of my life or my story to impress you.
I am honestly not impressive (in terms of talent or ability).
I (like you) still deal with all the normal human emotions of fear, self-doubt, uncertainty, confusion and frustration.
Show me someone who doesn’t experience these things and I’ll show you someone who’s dead.
It’s called the human experience.
The key is to act on our ideas despite… that internal saboteur.

To transcend our self-limiting world (that world in our head).

My objective in sharing these short stories is to impress upon you that anyone (yep, you too) can take an idea, build some momentum, overcome a few challenges, deal with the obligatory crap that life dishes out and create something amazing and at the same time re-invent themselves.

Read this and remember it:

“Who we are, how we are and what our life becomes, is not pre-determined; it’s a choice.”

Fate, schmate.
Destiny, schmestiny.
Both the refuge of the weak.

For some people, an idea is the beginning of something amazing; a life-changing, paradigm-shifting wild ride of fun, learning, adapting, skill development and personal growth.
A catalyst for positive change; for the life and the reality we really desire.

And for others the word ‘idea’ is an acronym for I Don’t Even Attempt.

For many, that’s exactly what it is.
Their ideas stay just that; thoughts, possibilities, concepts, theories.
Often great ideas.

Pity they do nothing with them.
Plenty of potential.
No action.

In theory, they are creative and brilliant.
But practically, they’re paralysed.
In their head, they’re amazing.
Out here in the world, not so much.

Call it analysis paralysis.
Fear.
Laziness.
Apathy.
Procrastination.
Stupidity perhaps..
We do nothing with our great ideas for a bunch of reasons but ultimately it’s a waste of our potential and sadly sometimes, a waste of a life.

We are the kings (and queens) of… ‘almost’ and ’soon’ and ‘now-is-not-the-right-time’.
We tell ourselves it’s about timing.
It’s not a timing thing; it’s a you and me thing.
You know that.

When we deny our creativity and our potential, a little bit of us dies; emotionally, psychologically, creatively.

And when we do it for long enough, we build a prison for ourselves.
Living somewhere we don’t want to (I’m not talking about a house or a location here).

But then again, we don’t really live.. we exist.
We ‘get by’.
We go through the motions.
We’re champions at simulating productivity while simultaneously doing nothing.
We’re experts at wasting great ideas.
At ‘nearly’ doing stuff.
Dying a little bit each day.

Rather than taking our life by the scruff of the neck and shaking the crap out of it… we meekly hope that somehow we will succeed.
Fall on our feet perhaps.
Get lucky.
We consistently do nothing with our ideas.
Daily we waste time and talent.
We slowly and methodically kill our creative selves by consistently doing nothing with our ideas.

We start to lose hope.
We become pessimistic and cynical.
What an unnecessary and unfulfilling way to live a life.
We constantly think about our life, our relationships, our body, our finances, our spiritual selves, our career. We have great ideas and create amazing scenarios and outcomes in our head… but sadly, it ends there.

So……
We’re here on this big blue ball for eighty years or so, I figure we may as well take that mind, that potential and those ideas of ours out for a spin and see what we can do.
There’s an idea!
Take them out of the garage (take action on those ideas), get ‘em out on the freeway (create some momentum) and see what they can do (turn your idea into a thing).

Yes, it’s scary… you’ll cope.
Yes, you might look silly or scrape your knees every now and then… so?
Yes, it might be uncomfortable or even painful at times… welcome to life.
No, not every body will be happy for you or support you… big deal.
And yes sometimes in ‘that moment’ you’ll doubt, regret and stress…
But the rewards over the long-term are amazing.

Personally I’d rather die trying than ’survive’ an existence I hate.

As I’ve said before… sadly, some of us will die with our music still in us.

I challenge you today, yep now… at this moment in time, sitting there in your chair, with that goofy look on your face (yes, it’s goofy) to choose different.

To turn your ideas into realities.
I’m sick of doin’ it by m’self.
I want you on my team.

With me?