Whether you want to start a business, or expand one that you’ve already created, finding the “right” idea can feel daunting.
As it turns out, there are things you can do to align yourself with those big, once in a lifetime, million dollar ideas.
Here are 13 steps to come up with your big idea:
1. It’s not a one shot deal.
There are plenty of ideas out there. Don’t panic. You’re not going to “miss the boat” if you don’t act now. That’s just fear and scarcity talking. Yes, sometimes there is an immediate market need or a competitive dynamic that requires swift action, but if you miss one opportunity, there are plenty more.
If you fail the first time, try again. Almost every successful entrepreneur has at least a few failures under his or her belt. Did you know Bill Gates and his Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen started a company called Traf-O-Data that didn’t work out before creating Microsoft? Henry Ford’s early ventures failed and left him broke five times before he founded Ford Motor Company.
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2. Follow your curiosity.
Reach out to people you’re interested in meeting, not because you have a strategic reason but simply because something inside you says; “I want to know more about that.”
In her new book “Big Magic,” Elizabeth Gilbert advises that we follow our curiosity instead of our passion because passion involves too much pressure; “Curiosity is a milder, quieter, more welcoming and more democratic entity. The stakes of curiosity are also far lower than the stakes of passion.”
3. Make a commitment to creativity.
Regardless of whether you think of yourself as a creative person or not, you are. It’s your birthright. And, being an entrepreneur is an inherently creative process. The more you commit to it as a creative process, the more likely you are to expand your thinking and have a creative idea.
Try saying this commitment statement every day; “I commit to joyfully expressing and honoring my full creative potential.”
4. Make yourself open, become a vessel.
New ideas come to people who are open and receptive to them. Meditation has been scientifically proven to increase creativity, it can help still your mind so you’re more receptive to new ideas.
5. Creativity and fear go hand in hand.
It’s normal to feel afraid when you have a new idea. The more quickly you can become comfortable with failure and fear, the more quickly you will succeed.
In Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert advises; “Learning how to endure your disappointment and frustration is part of the job of a creative person. You don’t just get to leap from bright moment to bright moment. How you manage yourself between those bright moments, when things aren’t going so great, is a measure of how devoted you are to your vocation.”
6. Listen to your intuition. Go with your gut.
Learn to recognize your personal signs when you’re onto something big. Some people get goosebumps, others have a buzzing, excited feeling in their body. Start to tune in to your body and notice what it feels like when you’re on the right track.
7. Follow the big energy, not the big idea.
Ironically, one of the best ways to come up with a “big” idea is to let go of the pressure to come up with a “big” idea. That’s going to stop you before you start. Many ideas start off small and build to something big.
Instead of thinking in terms of big and small, notice where you feel the most energized and follow that. You’re more likely to burn out if you choose a “big” idea that you’re not passionate about.
8. Be patient.
Don’t assume it’s not working. There is a lot going on under the surface when you begin this process, even if you can’t see results immediately. Continue to focus on your curiosity and pursue those nuggets or ideas that make you feel energized or excited, knowing you’re on the right path.
9. New ideas are fragile.
Be careful with whom you share your early ideas. There are plenty of people who can analyze and criticize, but that’s not helpful at this stage. You want to be as open as possible in the early part of the creative process. This is also a time when fear and doubt re-emerge, and it’s important to be surrounded by cheerleaders when you’re first exploring a new idea.
10. Iterate, Iterate, Iterate.
James Dyson, founder of Dyson says; "We are all looking for the magic formula. Well, here you go: Creativity + Iterative Development = Innovation."
Once you have an idea, it’s important to get feedback and make changes…but only with the people who matter – your consumers. Focus on getting feedback mainly from your targeted consumers, not your parents, friends or roommates (unless they are also your target demographic).
11. Focus.
Once you have an initial idea you’re committed to, give it everything you’ve got. Be disciplined and pursue one thing at a time. If you’re not the best on the ground executor, find someone who is and partner with them.
12. Ideas evolve…let them.
Don’t get too attached or assume you’ve figured it all out with the first idea. The first idea is not always the best idea. It’s not one and done. The idea will continue to evolve. You will continue to evolve.
13. You are not your idea.
It will feel very personal when you begin to pursue an idea you really believe in. The more you can separate yourself from your idea, the better. Otherwise, you will feel too fragile to bring your idea out into the world.
If you follow these 13 steps, you will expand your creative capabilities and be more likely to align yourself with an exciting, new idea.
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