What is the origin of good ideas?
Has it ever happened to you to remember that some time ago you had a very interesting thought but you somehow didn’t develop it and now you can vaguely remember it (if at all)?
There is an incubation period preceding the moment when a new idea is born. Sometimes you have a vague idea of what could become a very important idea later in your life.
Unfortunately, sometimes these vague ideas never clear out – perhaps due to lack of appropriate environment. That’s why you should always write down any idea that comes to your mind and has even the slightest hint of potential. You never know when the time will be right for an unpolished idea to flourish and present itself to you.
But a new idea is not something that strikes you like a lightning. It’s rather a process that needs certain circumstances (time and place, as well as attitude and even mood) to be born and flourish. So, what is this environment? Is it the solitude of nature or your quiet office where the only thing you can hear are your own thoughts? Or is it a bustling café where you chat with your friends on a night out? Or maybe the spot near the water dispenser at the office where you make jokes and exchange ideas with your colleagues?
There isn’t idea, greater than the creator’s mind.Research has shown that creating a new idea usually consists of our observations, ideas from other people, etc that are combined in a new way in our brain to form a new idea. In this regard, the best environment for new ideas should include people from different backgrounds, sharing different (often controversial ideas), arguing, and uniting around a certain idea or concept.
Communication is the key here – do not be afraid to communicate your ideas with other people. You may get a valuable piece of advice for a good idea or constructive criticism for a (not so good) idea. Either ways, it will enrich your perceptions and give you different points of view. For an awful idea can become a brilliant discovery if only looked from a different angle. For example, the popular soft drink ‘Coca-Cola’, was first offered, as a (not quite successful) headache syrup, before it evolved into one of the most recognizable brands worldwide.
Sometimes you have just a part of a great idea – in this case you need other people to talk it through with and you might just find the right people who have the other parts. Connecting ideas rather than protecting them is the key to success. Find people whom you trust, who have proven their potential, and communicate with them. Join interest clubs and provoke conversations on versatile topics – the next great idea may be just around the corner!
The most important thing you should know, is that there isn’t idea, greater than the creator’s mind. That is why you should never stop learning, developing and provoking yourself. Because only this way you might construct the brain, which would create your idea, worth millions!
Despite, people often pay attention only to the individual “Eureka!” moment, in the following video, Steven Johnson is sharing with us how the history has a bit more different perspective, for the creation of a great idea. Please, enjoy his inspirational story!
