Pick an Idea – Any Idea

The ideas are coming in like a whirlwind, each one is fascinating, each one would be fun to do, and many of them would be profitable. The fact is you can’t do them all so how do you choose the best idea?

The first thing to look at when choosing an idea is where you are at this point in time. What skills do you have? What skills do you lack? What is your passion? If you don’t know how to write articles then you are not ready to write a complete book. If you have not taken steps to build a target community following then it’s not the time to launch a high end coaching program. Do a reality check about the skills, talent and resources you have to make happen. What does your business need? What does your community need? Do you have what it takes to make this idea happen?

What will this great idea accomplish? Do you need to make more money? Do you need to attract more people? Do you need to create passive income through information products? Do you need to identify the unique system you can teach? Identify what your business needs at this moment in time. Choose ideas that further that objective.

Ideally you start looking for ideas by addressing a specific need or a burning desire. But ideas don’t always show up like that. So look at what your idea will accomplish and go see if it is needed in your target audience. See what is out there that is similar and look at how you can make your offering unique.

Let’s say you have identified three ideas that fit in with your objective. How do you choose just one? What does your community need first? If you don’t have a strong online presence and a way to attract and capture the names and emails of people that are interested in your work then that needs to come before you write a teleclass or make a video. But if the three ideas are similar in purpose, choose the one you can get to market first. That way you have a product, it can produce income and interest while you work on the next project. It will also give you a sense of completion and forward movement that will propel you to the next project.

I am busy enough trying to sort through my own ideas so when someone approaches me with a new opportunity that is very appealing, I have to have some way to evaluate that opportunity. People connect to you for various reasons but the one I like best is when they are intuitively drawn to my energy – to what I have written or what I have taught. If they feel a core connection I want to listen to them. I had this happen to me recently and I have had to look carefully at what is right for me to do at this point in time. Is it an opportunity I should consider or does it pull me off my current path? Is my current path still leading me to the results I want and need? Paths are meant to be changed, new routes are meant to be explored, but when an unexpected opportunity comes up take time to go within and see if it really resonates to you, your work, your passion and the people you serve. Listen to what’s beneath the offer and see if there are other reasons you should connect with a new person.

This is fairly typical of entrepreneurs – we are new idea people, not maintenance people so the fun and challenge and creativity comes from thinking up new ideas. But if none of those ideas get to other people what good are they? I can’t tell you the number of times I have had an idea pop to the top and when I think about it and look through my computer I often find I have some version of that idea partially started or nearly completed already or at the very least research and ideas gathered for it. Completion is a very, very good thing. Learn to deliver one idea before moving off to the next one.

Once you weigh your choices and chose the best idea for you to develop right now in this time and place – do it!!!! Completing a simple project teaches you the steps involved with everything from time management to content development so the next time you do a similar project it will be easier and faster to complete. We are meant to share our ideas. Pick one idea and make it happen. Only then do you choose another idea to complete.

© 2011 Cara Lumen