Author Archive

Idea Discovery – Video: Art Beyond the Canvas

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here’s my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

Watch this TED talk by artist Alexa Meade. She took her curiosity of shadows in art and quite unintentionally turned it into something way out of the box and unconventional, but so amazing. You need to watch this!

Check out the video here

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.
Stay connected with me for more Idea Discoveries.
IdeaSuccessNetwork.com
Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach
Author: “Hey, That’s MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think”

Idea Discovery – Article: A Brilliant Method To Bolster Your Business Ideas

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here’s my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

Do you struggle coming up with good business ideas? I came across this wonderful article “A Brilliant Method To Bolster Your Business Ideas” by Siimon Reynolds, contributor at Forbes.com. Siimon offers a step based strategy for coming up with new ideas for your business regardless of what area you are looking to improve upon. Following these steps will help you reach your business goals quickly and efficiently. Enjoy and please share with colleagues and business associates!

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.
Stay connected with me for more Idea Discoveries.
IdeaSuccessNetwork.com
Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach
Author: “Hey, That’s MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think”

What Do You Do Differently?

What Do You Do Differently?

This is a typical marketing question for determining your unique selling proposition. Your answer helps you distinguish yourself and your business from the rest of the pack. However, I ask this question in a different context here.

When you think your idea may “get lost” in a sea of similar ideas, ask yourself, “What do I do differently?” See if you can relate how something you do differently overall can apply to your idea.

Here’s an example:

I have a ton of new information product ideas. So do a lot of speakers, coaches, trainers, and other information-based entrepreneurs. There are a lot of ways in which we can convey our knowledge and expertise. While I am good at in-person facilitation and writing, what I do differently is combine an impromptu (yet professional) electronic recording with a physical product and regularly use the US Postal Service as my distribution channel to my engagement community. When I pitch my product ideas to potential supporters I emphasize the value of my differentiation in a mobile device world.

What do you do differently? Make an otherwise “common” idea stand out, and be sure your differentiation is in your idea messaging.

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.

IdeaSuccessNetwork.com

Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach
Author: “Hey, That’s MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think”

Idea Discovery – Article: 10 Myths About Creativity You Need to Stop Believing Now

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here’s my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

Creativity is subjective. According to this article I read by Martin Zwilling at Entrepreneur.com, anyone can be creative or think creatively. It just requires you to have an open mind and not limit your thinking in any way. Read the myths that are listed and stop letting any of these myths hold you back!

Read it here.

Share with family, friends co-workers and colleagues!

Seven Ways to Make Unpopular Ideas Appealing

It’s a great feeling to successfully persuade people to support and help you implement your ideas. Yet sometimes, positive acceptance is elusive. New ideas and suggestions for improvement can scare people who resist change. When you have a difficult time convincing your colleagues to believe in or act on your ideas, try one or more of these approaches. They may just be the key to winning over idea supporters.

Destroy disinformation. Confirm facts and information before you communicate them to your colleagues. If the price for upgrading to new software is going to be $5000 and your department is on a tight budget, disclose the actual price but highlight the ways in which the software upgrade provides a return on that investment. If word gets around that a potential vendor promised a special feature that you know to be outside the scope of the upgrade, correct and clarify the disinformation so that everyone is clear about what to expect.
Act and react in the way you want them to respond. Ever notice how excited you can get about an idea when the person presenting it is also excited? Emotions are contagious. How you react and are perceived to be affected by your own idea conveys a message to peers that they should react and act similarly. If you aren’t excited and pumped about your own ideas, how can others be so?
Establish an environment of comfort and trust. Organize impromptu group forums such as group breaks, lunches, fun contests, and other activities that build camaraderie. People who are comfortable with, know, like, and trust each other are more open and honest when they communicate.
Negate the negatives. Refuse to pass rumors or talk negatively about others. This allows you to play on an even playing field, which helps colleagues evaluate your idea without prejudice. If you speak negatively about someone or someone else’s idea, people wonder if you will speak negatively about them at some point. There is an adage worth keeping in mind that when you can’t speak positively about someone or something, say nothing at all.
Zip your lips. If told something in confidence, keep it confidential. The ability to keep “secrets” to yourself will go a long way in building respect among your peers. Full disclosure and transparency are ideals that encourage trust. Surely you must disclose to concerned parties that which impacts the success of implementing your ideas. Confidentiality is important where individual feelings and concerns are expressed to you “in confidence”, one-on-one. Even close relationships learn to respect that if you do not share something with them that you hold in confidence with someone else who asked you to do so, then you will likewise hold what they share in confidence when the time arises.
Have a laugh. Find humor or irony in a situation and communicate in a way that evokes smiles or laughter. Whatever you do, avoid sarcasm. You never know how someone might misinterpret your “joke”. Keep the mood light and neutral when you communicate your idea. “Yes” comes easier when accompanied by laughter and cordiality.
Stay positive. A positive approach goes a long way towards moving your idea forward, especially through rough patches. If others want to participate in gripe sessions, be the one to discourage this involvement. Maintain as positive an outlook as you can to keep your ideas in the best light possible.

Follow these steps to not only help establish a good rapport with your colleagues; they also provide a foundation on which you can communicate your ideas in a positive, nurturing environment. Even if you don’t have an idea to develop immediately, try incorporating these approaches into your daily communications. When your time comes to present your idea, you will have a support system of accepting, motivated cohorts who are ready and willing to do what it takes to see that your idea succeeds.

Idea Discovery: IDEAS for Trainers, Instructional Designers, and Workshop Facilitators

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here’s my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

I found these great resource ideas in a training bulletin I receive. If you develop training programs or design workshops (which you do if you’re a speaker, coach, consultant, trainer, or teacher!), check these out.

From ELEARNING BROTHERS:
Game ideas for virtual / online learning programs, workshops, & webinars.
http://elearningtemplates.com/elearning-activities/

From: THE E-LEARNING COACH
OMG! 10 sets of 10 free resources = 100 free resources for ANYONE who develops handouts, training materials, worksheets & workbooks, websites, and more. These aren’t just B.S. resources, either. Some require registration, of course, but not all. This is taking me DAYS to check out and use.
http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning2-0/100-elearning-freebies/

From: OPENCLIPART
I love using “light graphics” images – cartoons, doodles, drawings, symbols – rather than “real photos” of people, places, and things. This is a treasure trove of FREE clipart and line drawings. You can sign up and upload your own ORIGINAL ones, too. It’s great for just “idea-surfing” – looking at images and getting ideas.
http://openclipart.org/browse

Idea Discovery: Article – “How a Good Idea Mushroomed”

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here’s my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

I really enjoyed reading this article by Amy Westervelt , contributor to the Wall Street Journal’s website on how Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora’s idea “mushroomed” into a money-making business. Many times, one idea can branch out into other successful ideas as you will read in “How a Good Idea Mushroomed”. With the help of Kickstarter (which I featured in a previous Idea Discovery), they were able to get both businesses off the ground. It’s amazing how something most people throw away or flush down the drain can be used to make profits!

Idea Success Summit 2013 – 3 Day Retreat

You arrive Friday morning with an idea you’ve been percolating in your head (or multiple ideas that you need to sort out). In just 3 days, by Sunday afternoon, you will sort out the details of and get clear about your idea, develop your implementation strategy, establish new relationships and gain accountability to taking action on your idea.

The Summit starts Friday, 10/18 with a hot breakfast for a proper start to an intensive weekend. We’ll set the tone for the weekend of sharing and collaboration with a trust-building exercise. (No, you will not have to imagine you’re a tree!)

The rest of the day Friday, through Sunday afternoon, are full days and evenings with Sylvia Henderson, the “Clarity Queen” of Idea Implementation and the Founder of the Idea Success Network (and the Summit). She takes you through her six-stage IMPACT^© process she details in her book Hey, That’s My Idea!, teaching and facilitating individual and group work to help each participant work on her or his specific idea.

You establish and build relationships and make connections throughout the intimate small-group sessions, during meals, and at optional evening activities that you can call on long after the Summit is over. Presentations on mindset, implementation, and accountability are interspersed throughout the three days to break up the intensity of working and collaborating. Sunday afternoon is a “Pitch-Fest” to an audience of supporters who will give feedback to you to help you when you present your ideas “real time”. The Summit ends late Sunday afternoon with recognition and celebration for your hard work and participation.

What makes this event different from other “ideas”-based events? More than just talking about ideas, participants will actually work on their ideas and leave with plans of action and accountability to implementing their plans. This is an opportunity previously unavailable to entrepreneurs, business professionals, and micro-business & non-profit leaders & teams in the Mid-Atlantic area. Typically experienced by corporate employees and leaders, solo professionals operate in vacuums not conducive to sharing, strategizing, and being accountable to implementing their ideas. Get out of your vacuum and collaborate with others of similar mindset at the Idea Success Summit!

Only 20 seats available for this wildly popular event!

Idea Discovery: Blog – How To Overcome 8 Powerful Excuses For Not Acting on Our Dreams

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here’s my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

As human beings, we all make excuses at some point for not wanting to do something. Realizing our dreams shouldn’t be one of those things. If you have a dream and have not tried to fulfill that dream, big or small, what is YOUR excuse? Read this blog by David Loker, founder of PassionForaLiving.com to find out how to overcome the excuses you might make when it comes to not realizing your dream. The most important nugget of all: TAKING THE FIRST STEP.

How To Overcome 8 Powerful Excuses For Not Acting on Our Dreams

My IMPACT process helps to put your ideas into action and perhaps help you realize a dream of yours. For more information, visit my website and let me help you succeed!

Idea Discovery: Article – The No. 1 Reason Business Ideas Fail and How You Can Avoid It

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!
Here’s my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

No matter how many ideas or inventions you think up, it doesn’t do you or anyone else any good unless you act on it. Giving up is the #1 reason why your idea fails. Read this article by Debra Kaye, a brand and culture strategist; contributor to Entrepreneur.com for 4 strategies to implementing your great ideas!

Need my help taking your idea to IMPACT? Connect with me @ IdeaSuccessNetwork.com

Read the article HERE