During one of our weekly Jolt meetings, we came across this quote on Instagram;
As a rule in business, the more you share, the more positive the impact on your working life. Hoarding builds barriers and narrows your world, sharing grows relationships and opens doors. We’ve advocated for this with teams our entire working lives.
But what about those times when you have a big idea that you’re uncertain of? Especially when it’s a creative idea, or a life defining thought that’s landed on you like a speck of pixie dust.
Ideas, just like dust, can be blown away by careless winds if you don’t protect them.
As the quote says, choose wisely.
When the sparks of bigger thoughts are early in their birth, seeking validation in the rumination of our own minds may feel counter-intuitive - most of us want to seek validation from others, not from ourselves. Why wouldn’t we? We all want approval that we’re thinking or doing the right thing.
But this is where the speed bumps lie, even when the bumps look inconspicuous. It’s the point where the most care is needed.
I was talking to a psychologist about this recently. While we were debating about why ideas die, why people don’t pursue their dreams or take risks, she leant forward, cupping her hands.
“Your big ideas”, she said, “are like glass”. She uncapped her hands for a moment, and made a crashing sound (a pretty good one, I might add). In my minds eye, I saw a glass fall to the floor and smash into tiny pieces.
“…be careful who you share your ideas with, because the people who love you, can sometimes kill you. They don’t mean to. They think they’re doing the opposite. Ideas are as fragile as glass”.
What she explained, was the power others have over us, especially those who love us the most. They don’t want us to fail. Or get hurt. Lose money. They’re projecting their own fears on us. On the other extreme, some, unfortunately, may not even want us to be successful at all.
The image of that broken glass is seared into my mind. A metaphor for a breakfast of regret.
I now have a select group of people I take ideas to when they’re in their early stages. It’s not always my close friends, and it’s rarely my family. It’s a group of people I know will validate my thoughts for what they could become; not for what they think I might become by pursing them. I call them my Network. They’re special.
Your gut instincts are honest, true and coded in your DNA. They have nothing but your interests at heart. Trust them, but be careful who you introduce them to.
Find your Network.
They might be your biggest Jolt of all.
With glasses full of love and ideas,
The Jolt.
PS if you liked this, please share it with someone you think might benefit.