Shifting the Focus from Idea Generation to Idea Execution.
“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” – Thomas Edison
This concept — putting ideas into action — is the driving force behind the 99U Conference, which two of our designers recently attended in New York City. 99U features some of the top authors, designers, creators and business owners all over the world from companies like Buzzfeed, Basecamp, The New York Times and Project Greenlight, to name a few. The speakers, along with master classes and studio visits to the likes of Shake Shack, MoMA, and Shinola, foster a learning culture and an environment for people to share insights on how to shift the focus from idea generation to idea execution.
The speakers and topics were diverse, but they all shared common threads on this basic question: How do you bring ideas to life?
- Know thyself. Know what you do and why, know what you need (is it help?), and know how you lead and how you participate (the good and the bad).
- Don’t let failure get personal. Rise above the obstacles.
- Sweat the small stuff. Design is in the details, so make it the best you can.
- Find yourself some peace. A creative mind is a calm mind and better able to create more successful solutions.
- Trials and blessings are the same thing. See them as such and you’ll never be stuck for long.
- Begin with the end in mind. Think about what you want people to say about your impact or the impact of your brand, and then devise a step-by-step plan to get there.
- Invite yourself to the table. Create opportunities without permission; the table needs your voice.
- Fall madly out of love with something you’re doing. Be creative with your process and your projects will benefit.
It is not enough to have a great idea. To give it wings, you must grow, plan, advocate, defend and share it.
Above quotes by: Effie Brown, Ryan Carson, Jason Fried, Ryan Holiday, Maria Konnikova, Tristan Walker, Jeff Sheldon and Kristy Tillman
May 16, 2016 | Creative, Culture
