Having an idea that you don't see anyone else have can feel a little scary, but it can also be so exciting. At the core of the matter is this: YOU have an idea that no one else has. That's an invitation to create a product (whatever it may be) that's meant to be the solution for a (possibly) well-known problem. This isn't the time to shy away from that idea you have, or to talk yourself out of it. I'd also suggest not to ask yourself, "why me?" because it won't lead anywhere in the beginning. You have that idea because you have the skills to bring it to life. Instead of overthinking your abilities, lean into that idea and try to understand why you have it. And the best way to do that is to bring the idea to life.
A world-shattering, life-changing idea or invention can start as a question: "Why isn't this device reliable? What can I do to make it work consistently?" That was a question Jack asked on the show, The Gilded Age, and part of what got me inspired for today's Blog. Spoilers ahead if you're not caught up on season 3! But for a brief summary: Jack, the footman of the van Rhijn household, was frustrated that his alarm clock didn't sound on time and often made him late. The staff members experienced the same frustrations as well. So, by literally taking apart the alarm clock to figure out how to fix the wheel inside, he was later on able to sell his patent and product for $600,000 (which is about $19,000,000 in 2025's money). But before he saw such success with his invention, he was shut down by many investors who were afraid the clock was unreliable - he almost gave up after so many "no"s. Just as he was thinking about giving up, the right investors of the clock were planning to buy it because they saw the potential. And a few days later, history was made! Jack's idea was unconventional - especially for a footman at the time, and, to the wrong people, it was scary. If Jack had let his fears and the fears of others keep him from trying, he wouldn't have sold his invention and become richer than the household he worked for. Not that money is everything, but splitting $19,000,000 50/50 with your business partner is a pretty good Tuesday afternoon! Jack didn't give up. He kept pushing, even when he was terrified all his work was for nothing. But his invention and his determination changed the way the world relied on their alarm clocks. That idea was his to bring to life and he pushed on to make it happen.
Being an inventor or creator doesn't mean you have to create from scratch: you can enhance a current product, like in Jack's example above. It could be a variety of something that already exists, but you're putting a spin on it that you don't see in the world. You're creating a solution to a problem that you see yourself and others struggling with. Finding that solution can also take months, even years, to get just right. But as long as you hold onto that dream and stay focused on your "why", you'll get there in the right timing. Years of work will fly by if you stay focused on creating, and you'll learn invaluable lessons you wouldn't have if you gave up. Sometimes when we're creating, we can have a certain time table in mind for when things are supposed to happen. However, life seldom works how we expect it to. Keeping your faith strong and your confidence unshakable will provide you the skills needed to keep going. Take the lessons learned with you to the end goal. Who knows - those skills could help you with your next invention.
If you have that idea, it’s time to go for it. Leave all your fears, worries, and insecurities behind, and focus on bringing that idea to life. Imagine if Steve Jobs never co-created Apple and instead allowed people to scare him into backing down because what he was doing hadn’t been done yet? Imagine if historic inventors let their fears - and the fears of others - hold them back? We wouldn’t be in the world we’re in today. That’s why it’s imperative that you continue creating - even if it takes 100 tries to make it work, you never gave up and you still learned from tries 1-99. The only reason why people are successful is because they never gave up, and the only reason you’ll fail is if you decide to give up. So don’t give up!
- JS