Are you an idea hoarder? Maybe you a have a file on your phone or laptop with all sorts of amazing ideas. The only problem is the ideas aren't moving off the page and out into the world.
You've probably heard that term "ready, aim, fire" but when it comes to firing, you can't seem to pull the trigger. There are three types and I have been all three at certain stages in my life. It doesn't matter which one of the types you are because at the end of the day none of them are firing. In fact, all three are avoiding it at all costs.
Type: The Expert
Sticking Point: Ready
Characteristics: You can't even aim because you have to get ready first. You believe you must be an expert in the field before anyone will take the idea seriously. You take course after course but never move into action because there's always some part you don't feel comfortable with requiring yet another course or amazon book purchase.
Type: The Puppy
Sticking Point: Aim
Characteristics: You're always ready but aiming takes a lot of effort and work...wait, here comes another idea! You are an idea generating machine but the thought of spending time to put some meat around the bones of your thoughts is exhausting. Can't someone else do this?
Type: The Perfectionist
Sticking Point: Fire
Characteristics: You're ready but you need to continuously aim and then re-aim before your idea can be fired into the world. You nit pick everything making each step an agonizingly painful exercise. Your idea must be a carefully crafted creation of perfection before anyone can see it.
Ready, Fire, Aim
During my years in corporate america I heard the term ready, fire, aim a lot and it was always synonymous with someone who hadn't thought through their idea. As an entrepreneur I now call this person brave and smart.
Why?
They took a risk and FIRED!
How does one become an expert? It's not from reading a book or taking a class, it's experience! How do you gain experience? You Fire! Until you bring an idea to life you will never gain the expertise you so desperately crave.
When this person spent time going down the path of his/her idea their thoughts became much richer and their idea was able to take shape like a piece of clay on a potter's wheel. They may have made a mess but they still tried.
And finally nothing is ever perfect, in fact that's what gives character to people and nature. Imperfection is beauty. Imperfection is also where new ideas are born and the entire idea generation process can start anew.
Now when I hear ready, fire, aim I think of a brave, bold soul willing to refine his/her ideas through sharing.
Notes:
If you found yourself identifying with the three types listed above try these exercises to move into Fire.
Exercise if you're stuck at Expert: Think about the things you are good at and why. I bet you wrote down experiences in your life. Fire and you will become an expert.
Exercise if you're stuck at Puppy: Allow yourself dream time each week to look at what you've built out for one project. Then generate new ideas that will get you closer to the end game of the original idea. Idea generation is important even inside a project. (Also, the dopamine hit you get from idea generation is even more powerful when it's delayed. Take an idea to the finish line and you'll be reeling for days or weeks, not minutes.)
Exercise if you're stuck at Perfectionist: Set a time limit on your perfecting. The time limit will help you focus on egregious errors without ripping the entire project apart and starting over. (No more than 72 hours should be allotted)