How do you shorten the gap between idea and execution?
The other night, right before I was about to pass out, an idea jolted me awake: I grabbed my phone, wrote down some notes and promptly fell asleep. Upon waking, I had this deep urge to take action on the idea in a way I hadn’t felt in literal YEARS. So what did I do?
I rearranged my day to make space for it. It’s that simple – and that challenging!
A fair few of my creativity coaching clients struggle to move through the space between an idea and its execution. So let’s unpack this liminal space, shall we?
The difference between ‘idea’ and ‘execution’
It might sound a little daft, but do you know the difference between an idea and its execution? What counts as mere inspiration and concept versus what taking action actually means?
An idea is a thought, concept or mental impression that forms in your mind. It's the initial spark of creativity before any concrete action is taken. Ideas can be simple solutions to complex problems, but they remain in the conceptual stage until acted upon.
In the creative process, execution is the stage where you take action on your idea and bring it to life. That looks like concrete steps, like writing a first draft, building a prototype or testing your solution. Execution is the bridge between your idea and its final form.
Dr Marion Piper having a good ol’ think about creativity (pretty much what my everyday life looks like, ha!).
3 ways to shorten the gap between idea and execution
You know I’m all about practicality, so let’s cut to the chase…
1. Harness your energy and excitement!
When you get smacked with that first hit of a idea, harness it. You’re buzzing, excited and skyrocketing towards something new, so don’t sleep on it. Your energy is what can blast you through those first initial sticky moments with an idea.
For example, drop everything you’re doing and write the idea down. This simple act will get it out of your head and into the world.
2. Limit your options
When you’re at the beginning of the creative process, anything is possible. This is breathtaking, sure, but it can also become paralysing if you entertain too many options. Put some ‘bumper bars’ on your idea to keep shit moving.
For example, set a 48 hour deadline for your brainstorming or limit your exploration to 3 potential outcomes.
3. Fail forward (at least 10 times)
Keep an open mind with your new idea and know that it will likely fail a handful of times before it succeeds. That doesn’t mean YOU are a failure, but that you need to develop your capacity to listen to what the idea is telling you. It’ll show you what form it needs to take – all you gotta do is give it time and attention.
For example, you may start building an online course but it doesn’t click. So you take a beat to listen and all of sudden you feel the urge to write a book. So you pivot and everything starts to flow like magic (speaking from experience here!).
More than anything TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
It sounds a little woo-woo, but you’ll know what you need to create if you slow down and follow those internal nudges. So often I see people rush to Google or hire a coach to tell them the next step. I’m all for surrounding yourself with a support crew, but not at the expense of your own wisdom.
What if, just for the LOLs, next time you simply took action, one step after another, and let it all unfold?
What if creativity is less about being the ‘hand of God’ and more about being the vessel?
BUT… if you get stuck, don’t stay stuck – let’s chat…
As a creativity coach for writers and those wanting to cultivate authentic self-expression, my speciality is moving you from frozen to in flow. Whether you’re a copywriter working in a creative agency or a business owner with big creative goals, we can work together to make your words absolutely we-inspiring in their impact. Drop me a line (I’d say that counts as taking action) to learn more.
