Blood, sweat, and tears! Yes, those are exactly what every good idea needs.
There are no quick shortcuts to implementing ideas. Sure, there are some great tools that increase efficiency, visibility, and even profitability. But regardless, at the end of day, you’re going to have to work your tail (or any word you want to insert here) off to turn an idea into reality.
Ask anyone who you respect and consider to be someone who is actually living out there dreams. I bet you that ALL of them will say that it came at a cost. In addition, I bet most of them will say (at least, those willing to admit) that it came at a great cost to get to where they’re at in life. (And I definitely don’t mean money or fame. I’m talking about people who actually live out their passions and are happy doing it no matter how sacrificial it may be.)
Hard work is what gives flesh to ideas. I meet too many people that have great ideas but lack intentional effort towards actualization. Ideas are romantic to think about, but grueling to implement.
Are you willing to stay up until the late hours of the night to pursue your passion? Are you willing to sacrifice time and your own money so that you may work on an idea? Are you willing to learn from others, even those you don’t agree with or respect? Are you willing to READ and engage new content so that you can become a better ideator?
Your willingness or hesitancy to answer these questions will be the difference between actualization and wishful thinking.
Never confuse ideas with ideation. Ideation is a newer term that refers to not only the idea but the process of moving the idea into implementation. I want to be about ideation. I don’t want to get stuck in the world of ideas. There are plenty people in the world of ideas, but only a few who really ideate well. Learn frome these folks. Know any?
Let’s work at this together. Let’s not settle for just good ideas that stay dormant and eventually die. We need to help each other by continually challenging one another to move forward! Let’s kick each other in the _________ 
There are too many great things that we were created to pursue. Don’t go to the grave with your ideas. Let them breathe, multiply, and permeate human history.
The secret? WORK HARD!!!
Love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to throw questions or comments about how this actually works. I’m definitely open to conversing with you about this.
Life Scribbles is a blog category I created to jott down quick notes about various topics and personal interests. These notes (including questions) are meant to be short, thought-provoking, relatively open, and purposefully unresolved. I’m hoping that these Life Scribbles will challenge or refine perspectives, create meaningful conversations, and lead to further inquiry about the topics presented.
This post is tagged Charles Lee, Dreams, Hard Work, Idea, Ideas, Ideation, Ideator, Implementation, Life Scribbles, Passions, The Reality of Hard Work, Work
8 Comments
Your scribbles challenge the comfortable and encourage the adventurers. I agree that ideas are often never implemented because they take work. I can not think of anything worthwhile that does not take some effort to be realized. The real challenge is working together to nurture ideas and develop them to the point that they can be implemented successfully.
Thanks for your note Ross.
You bring up a great point about the complexities of collaborative ideas. I think it’s really important for companies and organizations to facilitate environments that nurture and support hard work. Companies that focus on work culture do appear to produce better products than others. In the right kind of work environment, I think hard work can become a part of a group’s ethos (i.e., values spontaneously lived out).
By the way, hard work environment is not same as strict environment. I think some orgs and businesses confuse the two.
I really appreciate your input
I think that there is also a piece of this that has to do with casting vision. There are lots of people out there who are willing to do the hard work for a great idea, but sometimes wait for someone to bring great ideas along.
So I think that part of good ideation has got to be harnessing the power of those who are willing to help put in the work once they catch the vision presented to them.
Great thoughts Charles! I definitely see a challenge in this to not settle for having great ideas, but to put in the effort required to make them come alive!
Dan King
straight up
my generation sucks at working hard, including myself…thank you for the reminder.
I love to put ideas into action. That’s my workhorse, administrative personality. What feels *more* like work to *me* is coming up with ideas, having the wisdom to determine if those ideas are worth pursuing, and consistently casting vision (to recruit) for an idea.
Thanks for the note Dan (@bibledude). I love your thoughts about “harnessing the power of those who are willing to help”. There’s so much wisdom there. Unfortunately, sometimes vision is not connected with opportunities.
Kevin…you’re awesome
Stretch Mark Mama…first of all, that’s a great name!
Secondly, for people gifted like you, partnering with some great ideators would be great. I’m sure many would die to have someone like you on their team. Keep up the great work!
Nice article. I think it was Roald Dahl who said “An idea not written down is like a dream lost and forgotten”. He also said a lot about working hard and that’s the secret to turning a good idea into a success. I create tools too for helping with ideas as well as using many other people’s tools. You’re right, the tool can help but there’s no quick shortcut!
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