Creative Alchemy: Transforming Ideas into Gold

Our minds are full of ideas, some of which are brilliant, others not so much. Since a tender age we daydream about the amazing adventures we will have, conquering the universe at steady steps. Over time, as we acquire more knowledge about the world, our ideas tend to become more plausible and somehow less daring. This is not true for all of us though, as we would not be where we are technologically without the imaginative inventors among us, who dare to strive for the impossible. Being intrepid or conservative, we all know ideas are the drivers for advancements and crucial for our growth. Therefore, I would like to share some insights on my process to develop ideas, test their feasibility and bring the worthy ones to fruition.

Going Beyond

Ideas are great. We all need them and realise how valuable they are once they scape us. However, ideas without putting the work mean nothing. They must be developed to be successful.

One of my biggest pet peeves are people who describe themselves as the idea people, throwing them to the wind, brainstorming solutions, but afterwards providing nothing to their development. Ideas need to be carefully fulfilled or they are worth nil.

Dream Big

Travelling back again to our childhood, that time when being realistic was not required of us, our dreams were daunting and fearless. Being a cowboy, a ballerina, an astronaut… We didn’t see barriers and we allowed our fantasies to go beyond any limit. As we had not yet faced financial, physical, or emotional barriers, we allowed ourselves to see beyond our circumstances and visualise a life past our reach.

As we grow and are exposed to the everyday barriers our families face, we tend to be discouraged to pursue these big dreams. For some, this might seem like an act of kindness, as teenagers that nurtured unrealistic goals might become unhappy adults later on. Nevertheless, when teachers and parents nurture kids to dream big whatever their circumstances, it might elevate their expectations to the future, revealing a bigger chance of success and happiness in adulthood. But I believe that, to do so, certain tools have to be put in place, not only during childhood but at all steps of life.

Think of this process of dreaming big as aiming to shoot a ball to the basket that is far away from your current position: if you aim too low, you will miss the target. Allow your ideas to be bold, crazy, over the top. This is not the phase to block or refract, but to go above and beyond. Write them down, immediately when they occur. I tend to keep a notepad of crazy ideas that may or may not see the light of day someday.

As you are letting your creativity run amok, you will feel when you hit an idea that resonate differently from the others. When it happens, you will know it is a special one. You will see yourself accomplishing it. It will stick with you and give you an exciting feeling in your chest. Everyone has different physical reactions, but you will know, deep down. This is the winner idea you should develop further.

Break it Apart

Now you have a killer idea, and you can’t wait to make it happen. But if you did your work right, it is an audacious venture, one that cannot be achieved overnight. If you try to embrace it all at once, there is a huge chance you will feel overwhelmed. Anxiety and fear might kick in and block you from moving forward altogether. Even if you are courageous and push forward at first, it will be complicated for you to keep the same motivation and energy over a longer period of time.

My solution to this issue is to break it into small, feasible tasks, easily measurable, that will allow you to move in the direction of your dream without breaking your inspiration. After all, everything has to start somewhere and although you can’t control all the results, you can surely control the steps you will take towards them.

Tackle each one of those tasks with determination and keep the momentum going. The cheerfulness from completing one task will be the fuel to kickstart the next.

Focus on What You Can Change

I am a control freak and a perfectionist and the insights I will share with you now have helped me deal with these in a healthier manner.

When you are developing your idea, it is easy to fall into the trap of overprotecting it and trying to manipulate every aspect of it to its core. It will not only drive you crazy, but it will also blind you to the key insights the environment is bluntly showing you. It is crucial to understand that your project is a live one, it needs to be able to shapeshift and adapt based on the market, the circumstances, the opportunities that arise in order for it to grow to its full capacity. Your flexibility will allow you to weather the storms and utilise the winds to navigate your new environment.

Not everybody deals well with uncertainties and this elasticity and plasticity might trigger apprehension in some. My advice is to focus on what is under your control, the things you can change and manipulate. Try not to worry if something is beyond your control and avoid concerning yourself in anticipation. It won’t help you in any way.

Will This Matter in 5 Years?

A technique I like very much to deal with unnecessary distress is asking yourself if this problem will still be an issue in 5 years (or even in 2 months). It is not unusual for us to become overly concerned about things that seem currently important, however they might have no impact on the future.

I usually combine it with the aspect mentioned above: I ask myself Can I do anything about it? If the answer is no, I let it go and focus on the things I can influence. If the answer is yes, I continue: Will that matter in X time from now? Again, if the answer is no, I will decide if I have the time or energy to deal with it but might as well drop it. If the answer is yes, then I will prioritise it and tackle it.

It might seem it is a silly exercise, but you will be surprised at how many things we focus on daily that are not only unimportant, but time and energy consuming, without any gain for their resolution.

Bring It Home

As you are facing the challenges head on and smartly, focusing on what matters to its completion, remember to be kind to yourself and carry on.

Additionally, remember that success doesn’t mean everything going right. Your idea might fail, but if it is a learning experience and a building block to your next endeavour, it is still a success.

By remaining flexible and attentive to your environment, your original idea might mutate into something even better, beyond your expectations. Dare to dream and dream to dare!