The Power of an Idea Developing Your Own Idea Management System Marla Gottschalk

The Power of an Idea Developing Your Own Idea Management System Marla Gottschalk I adore the movies â€" particularly films set in the workplace. I suppose this is an occupational hazard. (See a running list of the best of them here.) There is often a lesson to be learned from a great workplace inspired movie. But, there are a few which include classic themes about life and work. These are without a doubt, the movies we watch time and time again. Working Girl is one of those movies. (See Siskel Eberts 1988 original review here.) It has it all. Big business, big opportunities, romance â€" and the added interest of a really, really despicable boss. In this David and Goliath themed script, a secretary from Stanton Island (Tess, played by Melanie Griffeth), takes on the her silver-spooned, self-entitled boss (played flawlessly by Sigourney Weaver). The plot centers on the ownership of a creative business proposal drafted by Tess, but peddled by Katherine as her own. There is an iconic elevator scene, where Katherine is finally put in her proverbial place after dishing out a hefty dose of lies and deceit. She is shut down so succinctly and so completely that you find yourself muttering, Yes!. How the less powerful protagonist , shuts down her boss is worthy to note. She did so with the power of inspiration. It is the crucial moment where Tess explains how she happened upon her idea. The Aha Moment that ignited the notion that Trask   should move in an entirely different direction, toward radio instead of television â€" was the key to turning the tables on her boss. See, Tess explains as she shows the clippings from the newspaper. TraskradioTraskradio. Its one of the most satisfying moments for me in movie history â€" and its all about the power of a single remarkable idea. Never underestimate the value of an idea Some of the greatest moments in science and the arts come from a quick flash of thought. Well never be able to predict when those moments will occur. However being prepared to note them is critical. Few of us take the time to records and cultivate these moments. Ultimately, it is up to you to effectively capture and nurture these moments. What to do: Respect your ideas. When you have an inspired idea dont ignore it â€" listen and record it. Type a message into your phone or keep a notebook. Dont let it slip away. Even DaVinci kept notebooks to keep his thoughts close to him. Identify supporting materials. If you are reading a newspaper and find something useful or interesting, clip it. If you are on-line, bookmark the page. Connect the dots. Once a week, review what you have collected and organize your thoughts into a concrete idea. Try writing each thought on a post-it note and sort them accordingly. Is there a pattern or common thread? Do they fit together somehow? Evaluate. Review the idea the next day. If you feel the idea still has merit, do research and see what you come up with. Deep Google the topic to reveal nuances and applicability to your business. If you like what has developed, run the idea by a friend or colleague. Develop the idea. Write a one-pager with details. Include your supporting sources and how the idea would be applied to your work. Communicate. If the idea is still solid, map out a business plan or mini-proposal. Write a blog post. Draft a story. Develop a Slide Share deck to present it to others. Move forward somehow. Vow to never waste another moment of inspiration. Value your ideas and give them the respect they deserve. But keep the clippings â€" just in case. Dr. Marla Gottschalk is a Workplace Psychologist. She also writes for Linkedin.