Thoughts flow many times in a day therefore, it is important that you entertain your ideas like they are results of a brainstorming session. "Ideas may come like thunderbolts but it can take a long time to see them clearly - too long, and ideas are often born unexpectedly - from complexity, contradiction, and, more than anything else, perspective," said Nicholas Negroponte, professor of media technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and founding chairman of MIT's media laboratory. Negroponte believes that the concept of "managing research is an oxymoron".
Jerome Wiesner, science advisor to President Kennedy, was also fond of saying that to hover over your ideas is "like planting a seedling and, a short while later, yanking it out to see if the roots are healthy." Instead of trying to manage your new ideas, roll out the red carpet for them. Be a Martha Stewart to your thoughts!
"The best way to sabotage your ideas is to dissect the idea without knowing when to stop, share the idea with others who are not qualified to pass comment and grow too intrigued with the idea," said Malcolm Harvey, publisher of The Success Train newsletter. Harvey advised that although one should not easily dismiss a thought, thinking that one's idea is the best thing since sliced bread is not quite right. "Be very careful how you handle those gemstones for in a flash they come but equally in a flash they can go again," cautioned Harvey.
If you really don't wish to entertain your ideas, then donate them. There are many websites such as http://www.creativitypool.com/ that collect ideas so budding entrepreneurs may use them as a free resource. If you don't have a use for your thoughts, probably someone else will.
Steps in entertaining your everyday ideas:
- Make the first move - Invite the thought in
- Prepare - Make room for the idea
- Offer a warm greeting - Approach the notion openly
- Make introductions - Tell others about it
- Offer the best seat in the house - Consider the thought with kindness
- Listen, inquire and show interest
- Relinquish control - Don't direct the flow of ideas
- Leave room for future possibilities
Maya Talisman Frost, How to Entertain a Thought, www.selfgrowth.com
