By Nancy Marmolejo, Guest Blogger
By nature, entrepreneurs are highly creative thinkers. Every aspect of a business- from filling a need, to solving a problem, to marketing, to selling, to serving customers – is an expression of creativity.
But for every great idea that gets launched, millions more go the wayside because entrepreneurs simply don’t know how to take action, how to decide if something’s worth pursuing, or if the time is right.
Wild ideas are GREAT for business… and now more than ever is the time to take action. Why? Because so many people are playing it safe, the playing field is wide open for wild ideas.
This is the time to be bold and brave, to lean out instead of leaning in, to move into the unknown rather than stay in the familiar.
But how do you do that without losing your shirt? Follow these tips, inspired by real-life success stories, and see your wild ideas pay off!
- Don’t wait until you know everything
The time it takes to become perfect at something is a surefire way to miss an opportunity. Never stop learning, but at some point you must take action before- even before you know all the details. Entrepreneurs are fast learners- never underestimate your ability to learn on your feet while you’re taking action.
- Turn past failures into future successes
Thomas Edison took over 1000 tries to invent the lightbulb. You might fail at something too… but that failure could be the path to your next big success. Branding expert Kim Castle turned a disastrous financial situation into multi-million dollar business by simply plucking out the lessons and spinning them into gold. Where there’s failure, there’s opportunity!
- Step out of the safe and familiar
Trailblazer coach Shawn Driscoll hung out mostly in the background until one day she decided to break out and fully express her talents through her business. It frightened people around her, but the bold steps have paid off. Productive Flourishing’s Charlie Gilkey walked away from an established career and doctoral program to begin a business that served the needs of creative entrepreneurs. Social media pioneer Jack Humphrey gave away an extremely valuable product for free at the risk of losing $100,000 in sales. Marketing expert Ellen Britt chose to brand her business with an unconventional, regional twist. They each were told not to take the risk but they did… and it paid off. Get out of the safe and familiar and take bold steps into the unknown.
- Live a creative life
Creative people don’t just summon up their creative juices when needed. They show curiosity, try new things, and embark on new adventures. Business coach Andrea Lee views life as a creative adventure and puts what she learns into her business and live events. Author and coach Pamela Slim is drawn to great ideas in all aspects of her business and life. The creative life is a way of seeing possibilities and taking action on them.
- Make a plan
Being able to put your creative ideas into action is what separates wild ideas that go nowhere from wild ideas that pay off. Look at the big picture. Chunk it down into action steps. Map out the details and set deadlines. Stay accountable to yourself and someone else so things get done. This is where the rubber hits the road and where the success stories are born.
There’s a big difference between a wild idea that pays off and a distracting bright shiny object. Follow these tips to turn your wild ideas into profitable paths to happiness, prosperity, and innovation.
About the Author:
Nancy Marmolejo is an award winning business owner who teaches entrepreneurs how to stand out as experts in their fields. The founder of the highly successful Viva Visibility, Nancy recently launched a free virtual chat series “The Wild Idea That Paid Off” to encourage entrepreneurs to think broadly and to encourage curiosity. With 8 forward thinkers joining her, this series is designed to give concrete steps to turning your wild ideas into profitable, lucrative payoffs. Sign up here.
A friend of mine thought I’d appreciate this post and I’m glad he sent me the link. I teach creativity and love that you said, “Creative people don’t just summon up their creative juices when needed.” I say we are all creative and when we open that bit of ourselves back up, it is a constant, continuous process.
I also particularly love the final tip, make a plan. It is the part most creative people forget, or ignore, thinking that it will all just work out because their idea was so fabulous. I often say, embrace the chaos of being creative, but plan anyway. It probably won’t end up looking like what you planned, but if you don’t plan, it won’t look like anything.