It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.
So said Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman I have grown to admire tremendously.
This post is taking me out on a limb, because I am making a true confession: that I am infamous for coming up with fantastically good business ideas that I never implement.
Later on, someone picks up on the idea or trend and runs with it. And for me, well, it’s another idea I had a decade ago. While I don’t exactly regret not implementing the idea myself, I do wonder what would have happened if I had.
Then, I think about all the trouble it would’ve been to put the idea together into an action plan and I’m glad I didn’t do it. Because I can be incredibly lazy.
The truth is that I am a big picture person. All the implementation details? I’m not that interesting in doing them. They’re too much work, or not what I like to do, or …or…I have a million excuses– I mean reasons.
I have an idea for a new venture.
I’ve made some moves toward implementing it, such as:
Buying a URL.
Conceptualizing a few products that would be part of it.
Getting some “credentials.”
Testing it to positive reviews from friends and family.
And then I stopped. Why? I wondered. Some questions came to mind.
How much do I really want to work at this stage of my life? It’s not a concept that takes heavy lifting, but it takes more than sitting on my ass in front of a computer screen.
How important is this concept to me? It’s pretty important. I admire others who work in similar fields. I read about the subject all the time. I write about it. And I do some of it in my spare time anyway.
The truth is, there’s nothing pushing me to do it. If I had to depend on it to pay the bills, you can bet I’d be developing the hell out of it.
Right now, though, I have a pretty good life. I do some freelance writing. I write for pleasure. I play with my dog. My husband and I travel often. I read. I watch TV and go to movies. I spend time with friends.
I don’t have to do this.
But something’s pushing me. The importance of the work, perhaps.
So just before Thanksgiving, I signed up for a four-session webinar that would give me everything I needed to succeed. Or so the guy told me. He’s made millions telling people his secrets, so maybe he knows something I don’t. Since the session was almost free–under $10–I had little to lose.
And in fact, it’s giving me knowledge (I won’t go so far as to say skills, not yet) that will be a big help in implementing the concept.
More important, almost, is that it’s re-energized me. I see a path to success with the products.
And, fortunately, our renovation is going to require us to stay home for three consecutive months, time enough to allow me to launch in a thoughtful and organized way.
It’s entirely possible that for once, I’ll bring an idea to fruition. That I’ll make things happen.
We’ll see.
What about you? Do you make your great ideas reality and how do you motivate yourself to make things happen? I need help!
Kudos, Carol!! I, too, have ideas frequently…two that have been ruminating for several years…one I dabbled in getting into the hands of others…
Why haven’t I seen them to fruition? Excuses…um, I mean Reasons that mimic yours above, a long with a few others…some of which are realistic and some that are driven by things like sleep…and the efforts that would go into learning entirely new professions and all that come with them…learning curves…
But your one question, “How important is the concept to me?” is the most relevant and, an insightful query that all of us should be asking ourselves when mulling over a dilemma. At this stage of my life, these two ideas aren’t worth giving up more sleep than I already do or putting my writing on the back burner…
Thank you for this piece and that question, because there has been a tiny voice that has been chastising me for some time, and now I have a tool to shut it up!! 🙂
AND, most of all, I look forward to reading about the evolution of your thought coming to some reality!
Oh I know exactly how you feel. I don’t have enough motivation to push some ideas forward, but I’m starting to think I have to!
Good luck with your venture, Carol. I’m sure you’ll do great!
I can sooooo relate to you. I have seen my ideas take off (by other people) and, like you, I wonder why I wasn’t the recipient of all the good fortune.
One of my ideas came about when I was raising my 3 youngest children back in the early 80s. Disposable training pants! After I had contacted a patent attorney – who came to my home, because I didn’t have a car – 3 years after I contacted him – Huggies Pull-Ups did a test run in Chicago, where I lived at the time.
Well, we all know how that turned out. No regrets here, maybe just a little jealousy, because I never really wanted to manufacture those kinds of products anyway. I just wanted to sell the idea to somebody. To this day, though, I wonder if that attorney contacted Kimberly Clark. I’ve had more ideas, but that would have been my most lucrative one.
Oh, well, I would say that if you have a passion for your product, go for it. I’m 63 and retired. If I felt passionate about something, I would pursue it. Right now I’m passionate about getting one of my grandsons some help, so my focus is on a fund I set up for him. We just discovered that he has bone cancer.
“It’s never to late to be what you might have been.” George Eliot
I related with several of the things you said regarding the decision process – should I or not? It isn’t excuses but just weighing the pros and cons. However, once the decision is made, nothing short of a team of wild horses could stop me because of the driving force I choose to allow. It’s that driving force that will see it through and I have a feeling you are the same way.
I have to say that I’m much the same as you. Great ideas. Little motivation to bring them to fruition. Sigh. I have a great idea now. Maybe I should take that same seminar . . .
I totally agree with what you are saying here. I have a patented invention that I want to bring to market…2015 will be my year of motivation for getting this out there!
With the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, it’s the perfect time to bring something new to life. You can do it.
Plus, I can’t wait to hear what it is!
I think I’m still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. I would like to do something meaningful I just don’t know what it is yet. Good Luck to whatever you have in your head. I’m sure you will make a success out of it.
Congratulations, Carol. It sounds as if you are on the way to success. It must be an important issue to you so I’m sure you will do it as you are a leader.
Carol you are ahead of many entrepreneurs I meet because You see the obstacles, You know Yourself and You are questioning as You move forward, not jumping in!
I am an entrepreneur. It took me 18 months to launch my company. I know I am helping women get a better night sleep. This means a great deal to me. I culled the best practices from companies I worked and added my own values into my company’s mission. It is the best job I have ever had!
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short moments sometimes brings a lot of change. No matter how lazy one may think about itself. .. 🙂
Kudos, Carol!! I, too, have ideas frequently…two that have been ruminating for several years…one I dabbled in getting into the hands of others…
Why haven’t I seen them to fruition? Excuses…um, I mean Reasons that mimic yours above, a long with a few others…some of which are realistic and some that are driven by things like sleep…and the efforts that would go into learning entirely new professions and all that come with them…learning curves…
But your one question, “How important is the concept to me?” is the most relevant and, an insightful query that all of us should be asking ourselves when mulling over a dilemma. At this stage of my life, these two ideas aren’t worth giving up more sleep than I already do or putting my writing on the back burner…
Thank you for this piece and that question, because there has been a tiny voice that has been chastising me for some time, and now I have a tool to shut it up!! 🙂
AND, most of all, I look forward to reading about the evolution of your thought coming to some reality!
Oh I know exactly how you feel. I don’t have enough motivation to push some ideas forward, but I’m starting to think I have to!
Good luck with your venture, Carol. I’m sure you’ll do great!
I can sooooo relate to you. I have seen my ideas take off (by other people) and, like you, I wonder why I wasn’t the recipient of all the good fortune.
One of my ideas came about when I was raising my 3 youngest children back in the early 80s. Disposable training pants! After I had contacted a patent attorney – who came to my home, because I didn’t have a car – 3 years after I contacted him – Huggies Pull-Ups did a test run in Chicago, where I lived at the time.
Well, we all know how that turned out. No regrets here, maybe just a little jealousy, because I never really wanted to manufacture those kinds of products anyway. I just wanted to sell the idea to somebody. To this day, though, I wonder if that attorney contacted Kimberly Clark. I’ve had more ideas, but that would have been my most lucrative one.
Oh, well, I would say that if you have a passion for your product, go for it. I’m 63 and retired. If I felt passionate about something, I would pursue it. Right now I’m passionate about getting one of my grandsons some help, so my focus is on a fund I set up for him. We just discovered that he has bone cancer.
“It’s never to late to be what you might have been.” George Eliot
I related with several of the things you said regarding the decision process – should I or not? It isn’t excuses but just weighing the pros and cons. However, once the decision is made, nothing short of a team of wild horses could stop me because of the driving force I choose to allow. It’s that driving force that will see it through and I have a feeling you are the same way.
I have to say that I’m much the same as you. Great ideas. Little motivation to bring them to fruition. Sigh. I have a great idea now. Maybe I should take that same seminar . . .
In exactly that same boat with ya! Recently bought a book about this, called “Turning Pro.” Have yet to open it. Sigh.
I love the subject of your post today! Sooooooooo true!
I totally agree with what you are saying here. I have a patented invention that I want to bring to market…2015 will be my year of motivation for getting this out there!
With the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, it’s the perfect time to bring something new to life. You can do it.
Plus, I can’t wait to hear what it is!
Hmmmm, Carol, you leave me wondering what this venture/product/activity/services will be! I guess we’ll have to stay tuned to find out …
Good luck! Keep us posted!
Great business ideas that others implement later? Story of my life.
I’ll look forward to seeing what’s next for you!
I think I’m still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. I would like to do something meaningful I just don’t know what it is yet. Good Luck to whatever you have in your head. I’m sure you will make a success out of it.
Congratulations, Carol. It sounds as if you are on the way to success. It must be an important issue to you so I’m sure you will do it as you are a leader.
Carol you are ahead of many entrepreneurs I meet because You see the obstacles, You know Yourself and You are questioning as You move forward, not jumping in!
I am an entrepreneur. It took me 18 months to launch my company. I know I am helping women get a better night sleep. This means a great deal to me. I culled the best practices from companies I worked and added my own values into my company’s mission. It is the best job I have ever had!