Thursday, May 30, 2019

Got an Idea


One of the things I love about talking to boys at Scouts is that they are full of ideas.  Walking along on a hike or enjoying some downtime, you hear so many ideas of what they hope to be and what they plan to do in life.  I do not take these lightly like simple boy dreams.  Oh no, I see them as planning the future of the world I still intend to live in, so this is serious business.

                Ideas are powerful things.  It only takes one good idea to make a million dollars.  An idea can and does change the world as we know it.  The great industrialist and founder of Firestone Tires, Harvey Firestone once said, "What is important is ideas.  If you have ideas, you have the main asset you need, and there isn't any limit to what you can do with your business and your life."

                So, what do you do when you have an idea?  Most of us think that our ideas are great and important, and they are, but we end up not doing anything at all with them.  So, what happens - they die.  I have four things you can do to keep them alive and who knows, they may be worth millions.

“A good idea is like a wheelbarrow; it will go nowhere unless you push it.”
– Unknown

Write Them Down:
                Always, I mean ALWAYS, have a pen and paper with you.  When you have an idea, write it down.  Do not think you will remember later because you will not.  How many of us have said, "I will remember this later", only to say, "What was that I wanted to remember?"  I like to encourage Scouts to write an idea down in as much detail as they can so when they look at it all will come back to them and they can use it as the foundation for a complete vision.

Take Action:
                After you have written down the idea, do something - anything - to begin the activation process.  No matter how small or large, taking action will anchor the idea in your mind and the process to see it come to reality is underway.  Make sure that every idea you have and feel is worth going for, no matter how far out or impossible it seems has action behind it.  That action is the key to making this a reality.

Build Passion:
                Passion is the fire that drives us to our dreams.  It is seeing the vision as we want it to be.  This builds excitement and enthusiasm that will keep you moving toward the achievement you desire.  Every day review the idea you have written down.  Feel the excitement and allow the fire of passion to build in you.  Now use all that energy to drive you to action and action will always bring success.

Be Persistent:
                No goal is ever achieved without hard work and persistence.  Success does not come overnight.  We have heard of overnight successes, but the reality is that is not true.  As you study the lives of successful people you will find that it took hard work and a deep determination to achieve the success that others think came overnight.

                Never dismiss your ideas as crazy or worthless.  Grab them as million dollar tickets and work them with all that is in you.  You may just have the one great idea the whole world has been waiting for.  Someone must come up with it, why not you?

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.
Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2019 John Patrick Hickey

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