#78 On the Collection of Ideas

This episode started on the treadmill. That’s been the spot where ideas come to me lately... not the stepper (that one just kicks my ass) but the treadmill... steady walk, low heart rate, and somehow an overactive mind. And it got me thinking about ideas in general. Where they come from, how they show up, and what we do with them.

I talk about this thing I once heard from the author Elizabeth Gilbert... that ideas choose people. They’re out there floating around, waiting for someone to bring them to life. And sometimes they choose multiple people. The question is... who’s going to do something about it?! We've all had that moment where we see a product or trend blow up and think, “I had that idea.” But it’s not about having it...that's easy. It’s about executing it... that's the hard part.

In this episode of the Happy Human podcast, I talk through thoughts on collecting ideas, writing them down and having a system to go back to them. And also... how to decide if they're worth pursuing because I also talk about saying no to ideas, which is a skill in itself. Sometimes it’s not the right time. Or maybe the idea is badass, but it’s not yours to build. I share a viral story of Oliver, a guy who quit his corporate job to sail across the Pacific Ocean and how his idea turned into a movement. I have a full episode on that here. But for some people? That idea would be a bit reckless. So you have to be honest about what you’re actually able to pursue depending on where you're at in life.

I also get into how Happy Human movement and where it's at started as an idea I thought I’d already acted on with Happy Guy Clothing, a clothing brand I launched in 2013 w/ Digital Jeff and my bro Vic. This kinda influenced my journey the past 12 years and it came back around in a deeper way. And now I’m building this ecosystem of creativity (podcasts, blogs, illustrations and products) around the Happy Human Studio app. It’s not my first time chasing an idea, but it does feel like the one I’m most committed to showing, not just sharing. I'm done wasting time. Remember: show your plan (through action), don’t just share your plan. Don't be part of the "I'm Gonna Club"

There’s a lot of talk on Facebook in here too... about how the potential of an idea can be exciting, and how that dopamine hit can trick you into thinking you’ve already done the work by simply sharing it. But the real work is in making it real. Not just having the vision, but bringing it to life. And if you get caught up in how big or how much work the idea is, you’ll freeze. So yeah, I get into that too.

If you’re sitting on an idea, or trying to figure out if the one you had still belongs to you... this episode is for you. Go listen to Happy Human wherever you get your podcasts, leave a review on Spotify, and if you haven’t yet, download the Happy Human Studio app on the App Store or Google Play. That’s where I’m showing the plan in real time.

Being happy makes you have a good day. Words by Bella.