There is a scene in the movie “Working Girl” that fascinates me. It is the point where the obnoxious (and ruthless) boss is put in her proverbial place after dishing out hefty doses of lies and treachery. She is shut down so succinctly and so completely that you find I found myself muttering “Yes!”. But, how did the protagonist accomplish this?
The power of inspiration
That crucial moment where Melanie Griffith’s character (Tess) explains how she happened upon her inspiration – that “Aha Moment” - that ignited the idea that “Trask” should move in an entirely new direction – was the key to turning the entire situation around.
“See”, Tess explains, as she shows the clippings from the newspaper, “Trask…radio…Trask…radio.” It’s one of the most satisfying moments for me in movie history – and it’s all about the power of inspiration & ideas.
Never underestimate the value of an idea
Some of the greatest moments in science and the arts come from a quick flash of a thought – when things just start lighting up within the mind – and you never know when those moments will occur. Everyone has them – but do you take the time to cultivate them?
Practice your own idea management system
What to do:
- When you have a thought or inspiration record it. Type yourself a message into your phone or keep a notebook. Don’t let it slip away – even DaVinci had notebooks!
- If you are reading a newspaper and find something interesting, clip it, if you are on-line, bookmark the page.
- Once a week, review what you have collected and try to organize your thoughts into a concrete idea.
- Review the idea the next day. If it still has merit, do research and see what you come up with. Be sure to “Deep Google” the topic to reveal any nuances.
- Develop the idea. Write a one-pager with details. Include your supporting sources.
- If you like what has developed, run the idea by a friend or colleague.
- If the idea is still solid, map out a business plan or mini-proposal. Move forward or present it to your boss.
Vow to never waste another moment of inspiration – value your ideas and give them the attention they deserve.
But keep the clippings – just in case.
Dr. Marla Gottschalk is a Workplace Psychologist and teaches idea management strategies to organizations nationwide. You can find her on Twitter and Linkedin.
