Ideas…How to Pursue the Good Ones

Holly Smith
Cluster Specialist for Business Management Administration, Finance and Marketing

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”  Ghandi

Ever been driving home, and somewhere between dropping a cell phone call and that stick of gum, you are suddenly struck with a brilliant idea?  Whether it was how to prepare the chicken that night, a better way to teach a lesson to your students, or the perfect birthday gift for someone, when you found the idea clattering around in your busy brain, you were so elated that you almost swerved?  And, by the time you pulled into the garage, the idea had vanished as though it never existed?  You thought if it were any good, it would come back to you, right?  But, the next morning left you still struggling to remember it.  It must not have been a very good idea to begin with, you end on finally.

When I find myself with an idea that I think could turn into something, I have some “tricks” I use to keep the idea around and give it a chance to become useful (or evaporate into the garage, as it were).

First, I have to write it down.  I keep a small, purse-sized notepad with me at all times.  My family calls it my “crazy person” journal since I often scribble like a crazy person with my lips mouthing the words as I write.  Writing the thoughts down commits my brain to come back to it.  Next, I put, whatever I’ve written down, someplace that allows me to see it often.  It does me no good to misplace a potentially good idea in the caverns of my purse.  Instead, it goes next to my keys, by my toothbrush, or taped to my monitor if I can find the room.

Next, I let the idea marinate.  The recipe for the marinade is:  One part Research, One-Half part serious consideration, and One-Half part “whimsical wishery”.  For research, I ask around if anyone has bought the gift of which I thought, or tried implementing the idea I had.  I go online to make sure someone hasn’t already done it better, faster, and possibly cheaper. 

Then, I really think about it.  If it’s a gift, do I have to order online? Have it shipped?  Can I buy it locally?  Is it practical?  While I thought it was a good idea days ago, does it still seem that way, or has it turned silly?  If it’s an idea for the classroom, is it practical, fun, engaging, will it be received well?  Can I beg, borrow, and steal what I need for the idea, or will I be seeking funds to accomplish it?

Finally, I allow myself some time to daydream.  If I had an idea, for example, of how to use coupons to take the most amount of food I can to our local food bank, I really let my imagination go wild.  I see a fleet of trucks with some clever logo on the side as we drive around the city collecting coupons from those who don’t use them.  We have a special day at each grocery store where we do our mega buys.  We have tee shirts, a Facebook page following, and our tweets for daily savings are popular.  Eventually we go into other communities and teach them how do what we do.  Local elementary schools begin using our idea as a method of teaching math.  One day a benefactor steps in and establishes a community service scholarship named after what started as my daydream.  If this idea becomes anything, it will be pared down and changed and adjusted.  But, before it fully forms, I give it the chance to become anything.

After this, if my idea is still around, I sketch it out with more detail.  Then, I make the purchase, start implementing it into a lesson plan, or put it into action in my life.  I don’t leave it there on the paper where it cannot accomplish anything.

Admittedly, most of the ideas in my journal are not great; some are real stinkers, and some don’t even make sense.  But, they are there.  Perhaps in the jumble of words is a good idea waiting to be turned into a fantastic lesson plan that will engage my students again.  With a few simple steps, and a crazy person journal as a back up, there always remains the possibility that I have some brilliance left in me.  The excitement of that alone is enough to make me swerve off the road.