Comments on: Seven Key Steps for Finding, Evaluating, and Implementing Good Ideas

By: Jane | Problogging Success

Jane | Problogging Success — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:24:44 +0000

Effective advice, John. To me the most challenging part is to put those ideas to form. I get them, capture them nicely but when it comes to giving those ideas a shape, I don’t do it so straight to doing it lol.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:36:20 +0000

These 7 steps are worthy of a long article each. Like, chapter length in a book.

By: Azam@Kay Jewlers

Azam@Kay Jewlers — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:12:43 +0000

John I agree with almost all of the points you have pondered upon, however, I think the creation of an idea is the most important step. The rest of the things get rolling when you have an idea powerful enough to drive you.
What I often do is that I jog down ideas as they come in (of course many would go out as quickly as they come) and then some of them keep my mind occupied even when I do other things. When this, sort of, implicit thinking reaches to a certain point I feel like sitting down and pen all the thoughts. That’s how the process goes with me but obviously it can be different for different people.
Your post is highly appreciated …

By: John Soares

John Soares — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:55:06 +0000

In reply to Tom McGuire. Tom, I'm glad this post helped. I imagine you get a lot of proposed courses for UCB extension and that you must winnow them down to the ones most likely to get the most students.

By: John Soares

John Soares — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:53:05 +0000

In reply to Eric Soares. I think it's a blessing to have so many ideas; I'm in the same boat. I have various ideas in different stages of development, many just a set of notes in a Word document. Eventually an idea feels right in my gut, and then I move forward to completion.

By: Tom McGuire

Tom McGuire — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:38:20 +0000

John,

Thanks for the great suggestions! I have to come up with innovative ideas all the time in my job as Program Director at UC Berkeley Extension – and the vetting process is especially important. Good tips!

By: Eric Soares

Eric Soares — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:57:14 +0000

Great suggestions, John. My biggest weakness is #2, writing them down. If I can, I write them down in my computer in the appropriate file. I now have a portable digital recorder like you do, but haven’t used it yet for that purpose.

My real problem is that I have so many ideas! Unless I’m grabbed by an idea and act immediately, I often mull them for days, weeks–which is a good thing. Many of my great ideas don’t reach fruition, but so what? Many do.

By: John Soares

John Soares — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:34:50 +0000

In reply to Anne Wayman. Anne, I also have to let go of good ideas. I have many projects that interest me and that I think have a decent promise of success, but there's only so many hours in the day, plus I have other priorities in my life, like hiking, tai chi, and hanging with my sweetie, my friends, and my family.

By: John Soares

John Soares — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:32:43 +0000

In reply to Gene Burnett. Sounds like an excellent method for you Gene. Different people do different creative things in their lives, and your process sounds like it works very well for you and would also work well for other songwriters -- and poets.

By: John Soares

John Soares — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:29:52 +0000

In reply to Mikalee Byerman. Mikalee, I'm glad you found a good way to save all those ideas. I use a voice recorder and Word documents.