The Secret Garden of Startup Dreams

Almost everyone had a little spark of an idea. These sparks were special; they were the beginnings of what could become a great adventure—a startup.

I've chatted with folks from all walks of life, and let me tell you, each one has a tale of 'the one great idea' they've tucked away. It's like having a secret garden where they plant seeds of hope and dreams of what might blossom one day.

Now, here's a little secret about these ideas: even when you're not thinking about them, they're growing, slowly but surely. It's a bit like magic, but actually, it's your own mind working in mysterious ways when you're busy with other stuff. Scientists call it the 'Incubation Effect,' but I like to think of it as your brain's secret garden where ideas grow.

There's a trick to making these ideas flourish, though. You've got to start digging and planting. That's why I say to folks, "Don't just sit there dreaming—get up and start doing!" It's not because I'm impatient, but because I know that's how you get your mind's garden to really bloom.

Your brain is a bit like a friendly garden gnome, working away while you're off doing other things. And the more you care about your idea, the harder that little gnome works. It's as if your excitement is like sunshine and rain, all in one.

Picture this: one day, you're taking a shower or maybe out for a stroll, and out of nowhere, an idea pops up, ripe and ready! That's your brain-gnome showing you what it's been up to, handing you a ripe fruit from your secret garden.

But remember, a garden needs more than just a gardener. It needs good soil and water, just like your brain needs real-world stuff—like talking to people and learning new things—to help your idea grow.

So, what I'm saying is, every idea is a seed. And every one of us could be a gardener, tending to our dreams. Don't wait for the perfect sunny day to start gardening. Put on your boots, grab your shovel, and get to it.

And who knows? With a bit of work and a touch of magic from your brain-gnome, that little seed could turn into the most beautiful garden you've ever seen. So, what are you waiting for? Let's start gardening, one idea at a time.

Inspired by the following readings:

• The top idea in your Mind: https://paulgraham.com/top.html
• Subconscious Information Processing https://avc.com/2011/06/subconscious-information-processing/
• Why is "Stop thinking about it and do it" actually not impulsive at all? https://mrjamie.cc/2011/06/20/incubation-effect/