When An Idea Touches The Heart

What is possible when an idea touches the heart of a leader? What’s possible with the influence of that idea within your team and business? The potential from that ripple effect inspiring and impacting every area of your life and their life and business. I heard a quote Victor Hugo said, “ No force on earth can stop an idea whose time has come!”

“Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes.” ~ Napoleon Hill

Breathe Into the Idea

Think of when a stone is cast into a pond – there is a ripple effect touching the edge! I remember as a young child throwing stones into ponds and waiting and watching with anticipation for the ripple to touch the entire pond’s edge! This idea touching the heart, the mind and emotion, fed with purposeful passion, can feed your business rhythm in a fresh, new way. Breathing inspiration into the idea can open doors.  What idea could you discover to solve the biggest challenges? Remember, businesses get paid to solve situations. Situations viewed properly are great opportunities to serve and create abundant win-win.

“A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.” ~ Mary Kay Ash

Idea Like a Seed

What if the idea feeds hope so big within you it ignites a passion deep in your core? That idea awakening something more ideas deep within you to feed synergy! Think of this idea like wind filling a sail, moving the sailboat forward. What would be possible if that sail of the idea was fed, empowered and explored? Consider the nature in a seed, it will reproduce after its kind. For a seed to grow, it has to be planted in the hearts of others. Let’s explore some ideas to plant this idea so it can grow.

“Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea.” ~ Jim Rohn

The Process of Becoming

I want to encourage you in that past event or situation is not who you are! What if this idea is the bow for the arrow? The past tension is utilized as a motivator to feed the idea whose time has come. Possibly you’re tired or not sure if you desire to risk it again. Hope deferred can be like setting the table and pulling the tablecloth out and all the dishes and work of setting the table has to be done all over again. Ask, what are you becoming in the process? What are you building? The Wright brothers had an idea whose time has come. They also had a few opportunities to get off the ground successfully.

Feed the Seed

If the idea is like a seed, and the heart of the business is like the soil, what if we feed the idea seed exploring its potential? Let’s explore a few practical ways to implement an idea exchange.

“The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret of outward success.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Idea Exchange Process:

1. You personally write and journal on the idea before telling one person.
2. Feeding this idea within you with research and inspiration.
3. Then share with one very trusted, big thinking associate.
4. Then gather three to five core leaders sharing your passionate idea without refining it yet.
5. Note: The temptation is to jump right into refining, which is a trap and can get you into the weeds. Weeds kill garden life.
6. Then, as the leader, take what you heard from your trusted colleagues and build a list of power questions to water the heart garden.
7. Initiate another meeting with the same three to five leaders and ask questions and list answers on a white board. Then circle the key, actionable next steps.
8. Ask, how can this idea fuel and feed our synergistic rhythm? How can this idea add value to our clients and systems, people and culture? What are the costs of not exploring the idea? What is the seed potential with this idea?
9. Creating buy-in first with core leaders before sharing the idea with lots of other people. Fueling your leaders with this idea will help protect the seed potential within the idea. Remember, there are critics and dream stealers. At the same time, it’s all only feedback and not personal.
10. The final part is implementing an idea. Think effective planning, communication of the value, creating buy in with close leaders. Consider doing everything possible with excellence. Remember earlier we talked about: Plan, Do, Check and Adjust.

Nourish and Weed the Idea

Remember gardens require nourishment and weeding. Steve Jobs innovated the computer with new ideas. He pioneered Apple! UPS brought their team together saving the company millions through an idea exchange by only making right turns when possible. When one idea is put into motion, it has the power to touch the entire business and customers, even the marketplace! A fresh new idea has a way of being a catalyst boosting enthusiasm and attracting new business development!

“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

It would be the highest honor to be a part of your leadership development and transformation journey.

You were born for greatness,

Ed Garner