And to share the lessons learned.

 

“Today never feels like it will be history, but it will. And more likely than not, you will look back and realize that you should have known.”
                -Scott Belsky, Making Ideas Happen

Huay Tung Thao Reservoir

 

We are all acquainted with the impression that everything we “do” today will affect tomorrow, ultimately writing the script of our lives hours, days, and maybe even years before we have lived them. Consider what it is that you “do?”

What do you do? What are you going to do? What will you “do” today?

 

I think it is easy to identify the contextual definition of the word “do” in these situations as an expected or hopeful outcome resulting from executed or physically completed actions. When someone inquires as to what you will “do” today, what do you tell them? Are you telling them about what you hope to “do” rather than what you expect to do? What about your “to do” list, is it an actionable list of objectives that you will complete or a culmination of what you would like to accomplish.

This has always been a struggle for me. With inspirations violently interjecting themselves into every new introduction, change of scenery, spare moment for idle thought, and cup of devil bean, I have more than my fair share of ideas to juggle. How do I take all of this and turn it into some form a tangible reality? How do you bring them into actualization?

Realization. Discipline. Accountability


Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad) &
Yom Sai Krok (Spicy Sausage Salad) 



In the crafting of my personal legend I am learning that there is an art form to the transfer of inspiration into action. So you want to “do” something? Good, me too. How do you take an inspiration from the metaphysical and transcribe the idea into an executed action?

Realize that there is no such thing as a great idea or an idea that is simply better than the rest, for the value of an idea lies solely in its maturation. You can have a head full of ideas, goals, dreams, and inspirations that all go to waste if you never transcribe that energy into something that you “do.”

 

The transcription of our inspirations into something real takes honest effort and hard work, we all know this. If you want to “do” well in school, you study. If you want to do well in a race, you run. If you want to climb hard, you train. Wanting to climb harder than you ever have before will not make you stronger. You might have ideas, strategies, and hypotheses as to how you will become better at what it is you “do”, but the true success deserves the discipline of understanding the language of ideas and actions. Just as a musician needs to learn, practice, and understand the tone of sound and its symbolic representation to fashion a melody, we can learn to transcribe our ideas into what we “do.”

The hardest aspect of sharing an idea is knowing that you might not ever follow through, as I know I am very, very, very guilty of this. As I had mentioned before, I am stricken with the unfortunate disease of constant streaming thought and inquisition. There needs to be an irrepressible sense of accountability in our transcriptions. You have to find the energy and power to “do” in those around you. If their contribution is a simple interjection, rejection, encouraging suggestion, or time spent playing audience to your ideas you need not to waste their shared efforts. Time is the one commodity none of us will ever have any more of, what we have is what we have. If someone shares their time with you in regards to one of your inspirations, let that alone hold you responsible.

 

The energy to “do” is out there. Remember, the basic principle of energies? They cannot be created nor destroyed, only transferred from one form to another.

Check out Scott Belsky’s book, Making Ideas Happen. The book has a slight “self-help” feel to it with the target audience being business oriented, yet I feel that the message he conveys in his writing and research easily transcends into all realms of personal legends and journeys. It was an incredible read from start to finish. Short but sweet; this book delivers a simple message.  We all have ideas, but very few of us make our ideas happen. Maybe this book will help you get started.