In prying people open to discover ideas for the self-employment pursuit, many have some inklings. But they never allow those thoughts and ideas much room or thought, as they immediately discount the possibility:
- "I can't see where there is an opportunity to make much money with it."
- "Seems like the complexity of making it a reality would be overwhelming."
- "There is already so much out there in the marketplace, I'd never stand out enough."
- "Maybe someone could make the idea happen, but not me, I don't have the time or discipline or…"
You've nixed the possibility before even letting it out of the cage. Please, please...don't do that! I make a habit of only brainstorming with 'possibility people.' Most of us live in worlds where any new idea or thought is met with 'what could go wrong.'
Folks, any moron can come up with why an idea won't work. The merit goes to folks who shut their mouth on how it might NOT work, and take at least a few moments to consider how it MIGHT work.
Don't be the moron, especially towards yourself and YOUR ideas! We spend our time at Free Agent Academy working on the HOW. I've seldom found a viable interest someone has, and not been able to find a list of five ways that it could come to fruition and produce revenue.
I've got a very average IQ, no formal education and burned out many brain cells redlining my body as a pro cyclists. All I've got going for myself is that I love considering the possibilities, and I've been blessed to be privy to loads of goofy ideas that actually worked, for myself and others!
My 15 year old son Caleb always likes Legos. More than a fun play thing, he used to spend hours upon hours building things, day in and day out. We bought him kits to make all varieties of things, which he'd build in record time, then end up morphing kits to make new things. He then moved on to building custom Lego kits online at Lego.com.
Next, he took the blueprints from our house that we built, got graph paper and started drawing out new house designs. He really enjoys helping me on house projects, like recently building our 700 square foot deck. He helps me with the angles and math that I seem incapable of grasping. He's alaso made a lot of money making lamps, coasters and candles out of Aspen trees. He recently made 50 candles for $5 a piece. $250 for a bunch of dead aspen logs cut and drilled and a few hours of his time. Pretty sweet deal. He's saving up for a car.
For Christmas, we are getting him books on house design and construction, and helping him understand Google Sketchup so he can begin doing real home design.
There is little thought to how he should make money at this. He sure isn't encumbered by this, he's just following what he enjoys! The point is to press in to where he finds joy and help him pursue it to see where it lands. We'll find an opportunity in it, no doubt. Drafting, design, architecture, construction...lots of possibility. When other kids are graduating high school and spending tens of thousands at college to hopefully find something they can do so they can get a job and spend many years paying back that school loan, Caleb should be well on his way to having his own business doing what he enjoys.
Would you stop discounting your ideas? Be like a kid and just naively brainstorm and take into account anything. Throw it up on the wall and consider your heart and mind, not your current knowledge and wallet. The hardest part of successful free agency is finding the idea that you really care about. Finding opportunity for that idea is not so hard, truly.
Give yourself freedom and permission to brainstorm and dream and contemplate without the confines of figuring out HOW it can work.
That's my Christmas gift to you. Permission with no hindrances.
Merry Christmas!
Agent Kevin Miller
Discount nothing
P.S. If you want some Christmas inspiration, and to possibly get your toes stepped on (might help you NOT buy those last minute gifts you think you 'should') read this: "More Giving; Fewer Gifts"
Free Agent Underground Show - "Quit worrying about HOW your idea could work"
