Are you an idea hoarder?

Do not covet your ideas.
From Paul Arden’s It’s Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be: The World’s Best Selling Book

I have a confession to make: I hoard my own ideas.

I keep running lists of things to make, projects to start, dreams to pursue, blog posts to write. (In fact, this was one of them.)

Rather than make a plan to execute these ideas, I collect and save them. I check in on them now and again to be sure they’re all still there and haven’t run off anywhere. Assured that my previous ideas are all still around, I add to the growing list without refining and executing any of them.

There are myriad reasons why I (and maybe you?) do this:

  • Fear of beginning.
  • Thinking I’ll have more time or resources to better execute the ideas in the future.
  • Not wanting to “waste” the ideas on my inexperience — If I wait until I’ve gotten more experience, have more followers, etc, my projects will be more successful.
  • Fear that my ideas are finite — if I execute them, I won’t have any more ideas.

Here’s the thing: Making begets making. Creation begets creation. Generosity begets generosity. Waiting is a Catch-22: If I wait to do things until I have more experience, I’ll never gain the experience I think I need. Fear is a lie: Ideas are not a limited resource, and frankly, they aren’t ours to claim. The only thing we can claim is the work we’ve done to make our ideas real.

Keeping shiny plans or ideas or knowledge or skills to myself does nothing except speed up the rate at which my ideas get stale. My idea-hoarding problem stunts my creativity, productivity, and contribution. Your idea-hoarding problem robs the world of your gifts and unique story.

What ideas are you hoarding? Why be so miserly?


Comments

10 responses to “Are you an idea hoarder?”

  1. Love this post! I do often hoard my ideas, including right now, and I have so much fear about executing into the unknown. I definitely need to just take the plunge. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Yes! Do it! And I’d love to hear about how it goes for you!

  2. Thanks. Now I’m gonna go write a blog post I’ve been fiddling with in my head, saving until…I have more time? The only time I “have” is now. This post was the nudge (read, kick in the butt) I needed!

    1. Yes! Glad to hear it. I’ll keep an eye out for that post…!

  3. Ah Lisa, I’m with you! I’m an idea hoarder too – this post describes me too perfectly. I consider myself a creative gal, but I also have lists and random notes of “projects” I want to start in “the future”. You’ve given me something to thing about. I had already been planning to put some of these “ideas” into action in 2014, but why wait?

    1. “The future” is so vague, it’s no wonder we don’t get things done when we think of it like that! Can’t wait to see what projects you start working on!

  4. EcoDesignGirl Avatar
    EcoDesignGirl

    This post really resonated with me! I need to stop hoarding ideas! 😀

    1. I’m so glad! Is there anything specific you’re planning to get started on?

      1. EcoDesignGirl Avatar
        EcoDesignGirl

        Oh my goodness – that’s the thing isn’t it? 20 + years of hoarded ideas to choose from…where do you start? LOL

  5. vanessa oliver-lloyd Avatar
    vanessa oliver-lloyd

    oh man, this sounds like me.

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