The only dangerous thought is a lone one (tweet this)
Do you ever just sit and allow your mind to wander without prejudice to the value of your thoughts? You would be quite amazed at what you are capable of concocting if you give yourself room to breathe.
I have personally enjoyed the benefits of this many times — most recently on my vacation to Colorado. I have come back fully recharged and raring to go, but even more importantly, I have a huge number of exciting new ideas for my business. You will see these ideas come to fruition in the coming weeks and months. The success of those ideas will be almost entirely down to my willingness to switch off from my business and take a far broader viewpoint.
The fact is that there is no shortcut to brilliant business ideas but the process of creating ideas is very simple. Just switch off from your daily worries, responsibilities and anxieties and allow your brain to work its magic.
With the above in mind, here’s what I want you to do. Instead of spending five minutes reading what would typically be a far longer post here on Leaving Work Behind, I want you to spend five minutes thinking indiscriminately about your business and/or efforts in leaving work behind. Write down those thoughts.
If five minutes passes and you want to carry on, please do so. Don’t worry about what you are thinking of or of its value — just get those thoughts down. Then let me know what you come up with in the comments section below. You might surprise yourself.
Here’s what I came up with in 2 minutes:
– Spend less time writing for others and dedicate more to my affiliiate marketing biz.
– Find other ways to earn a side-income other than writing.
– Improve the way I promote my websites for maximum efficiency towards making more sales.
…and finally, read less and do more.
Not bad for two minutes! 😉
I’ve been pondering the same thought for a while.
I really need to create a flexible plan for my business that covers the short and long term. I know what I’m going to do this week, but I only have a vague idea of what is beyond.
So what are you waiting for Chris? Did you take the five minute experiment?
I’ve been doing this lately. Most recently, creative thinking inspired a new series on my blog. My wife and I are providing a humor-filled look into our thoughts on consumerism at the local shopping hotspots.
In addition, we’ve been making more plans and writing down a slew of ideas to work towards.
Having lots of ideas to choose from is never a bad thing.
Hey Tom,
Welcome back. It’s interesting what I came up with.
When you said leaving work behind it just struck me. We don’t leave work behind – we can leave a specific job behind but as far as “WORK” it’s defined by who you are and what you do.
I know that one of my goals for years has been to build up my “Passive Income” streams. Recently I realized that income is just income – it isn’t passive. I work damn hard to set up everything that allows that income to come in. Thanks for instigating this time to think.
Best,
Alan
My pleasure Alan. True passive income is very hard to come by, and what would be the fun if there were no work involved anyway? The whole leaving work behind ethos is that you find work that you find truly rewarding — so that it is no longer “work” in the traditional meaning of the word.
This reminds me of something I read in the book “The Artist’s Way” called “Morning Pages”. Every morning the author encouraged the reader to sit down and just write everything that was running through your head. Free writing, recording your train of thoughts. I did this for several years and over time I saw that it helped me really reduce the time it took from having the idea, to churning something out. It helped me speed up, like exercising an mental writing muscle.
So if you were to combine that technique with the kind of creative breaks Tom mentioned in this article, it could open up space for new material to grow in your mind
Just a thought :D.
I think that’s a great idea Niamh! Our brains are quite incredible, and coupled with a pen and paper it becomes even more powerful.
Here’s what I came up with:
1.) Stop worrying I’ll write a boring blog post and just write it.
2.) Write that erotic short story and submit it.
3.) Finish and send of half completed inquiries to Writer’s Magazine.
4.) Make more time to focus on affiliate marketing instead of assuming it won’t work.
5.) Write daily even when I don’t feel like it. (Yup, some days I loathe writing.)
I know my main problems are worrying and fear, but I can’t let it control me anymore. This is really a good post, helps you open your mind a bit more.
Niamh, I’ve heard of your suggestion before and it does work. Getting all those thoughts in your head down on paper or in a blank notepad message really works. 🙂
Some good ones there Nida — time to get started!
Do you know what Tom your timing is impeccable, I’m convinced your hiding behind my couch picking up on my thought patterns 🙂
I wrote about a similar experience a couple of months ago and only two days ago took advantage of “me time” whilst sitting on the toilet (don’t laugh). Ironically nobody bothers you when you’re on the toilet so it’s a great time to think!
In short it was the most productive time I’ve had for a while because it clarified and organised my thinking, as a result I came up with a new direction for me with regards to freelance writing and an epiphany in relation to my blogging strategy.
I wont go into specifics but needless to say both where a result of the technique you describe.
Best Wishes
Rob
Hey Rob,
That’s great to read! I promise that I’m not hiding behind your couch 😉
Cheers,
Tom
I agree Tom.
My most creative ideas come from when I am walking and not directly thinking about business.
Those are the times when I get an aha moment, and then I quickly write it down before I forget. That window to write something down is super short it is crazy.
If you don’t write it down it is surprising how easily we forget.
Glad to hear that you had a great time Tom.
I look forward to your changes and updates.
This is just in case there are follow up messages
You’re right Iain — I constantly have to fight the “I’m sure I’ll remember it” thought process, because I never do!
Exactly. I find myself repeating what I want to remember then I instantly forget when some one asks me something.
I’ve never really read a post quite like this one… Refreshing – thanks!
I’ve written down a ton of things but I simply wanted to share how true I think it is that if you don’t write it down it’s surprising how easily we forget – just as Iain said above. I cringe at how many times I’ve had an amazing idea – or even just formed a single authentic sentence in my head – and being sure it was so great that I’d never, EVER forget it…
And what happens? I wake up the next morning and I know that I touched on something but can’t quite articulate what that something was because I didn’t write it down.
First rule of being a writer (any type of writer) – WRITE IT DOWN AS IT COMES TO YOU!
Thanks again for another great post Tom.
My pleasure Kirsty and you are spot on!
Good post Tom,
What ever you do make sure you have something to write down your thoughts.
The only thing worse than not taking action on a great idea is forgetting one.
Tell me about. It happens to the best of us. And when it does it can be one of the most annoying things because you spend the rest of the day thinking about what it was.
That’s a good line Darnell…you should quote yourself on it 😉
I came up with a way to comment on 10 posts, make friends, and build loyal readers in 10 minutes a day. Then I came back to reality. It takes about 3-4 hours. Thanks for giving me the mind break. The allusion was great.
Haha, no problem 😉
I’ve started to realize that all it takes is one simple “yes” from someone, somewhere to completely change the trajectory of your life forever. It doesn’t even matter what it is about, good or bad, but that simple expression can be life changing. It makes you realize that it’s not about any one big decision, but all the small ones that have got you to where you are right now. Every moment is as powerful as the next.
Wow, that’s pretty deep Joey…you’re not wrong though.
The more you force to think the more difficult you can think and being creative, but somehow when you let go — your mind clear and a lot of creativity is flowing in.
A year ago I did a lot of Anabhanasati Meditation, this meditation aim to help your mind calm and let go, become more conscious and focus, and the outcome, beside from being happier with life, it was really boosting your creativity.
Even I stop doing for almost a year, but it still has an effect. The effect give me many ideas to create information product than I can handle. Today I have to carry a notebook to write down the ideas I want to do because it pop up many times a day —
It’s amazing and I recommend people find some good book about Anabhanasati Meditation and try it. It very boring to do at the start, it need a lot of effort, but the result pay off well.
Interesting recommendation Paul and I totally agree with you about “letting go.” The best ideas come when I don’t try to force them. If I just sit down and let my thoughts come to me all sorts of interesting things start to happen 🙂
Numbers are either positive, negative or zero. Similarly, each moment of our lives contains giving, receiving or creating.
Sitting at the computer often leads to some information giving and a lot of information receiving. And it’s darn hard to create while gazing into the infinite information machine.
You’ve just given us permission to be centered – at zero – and to allow ourselves to create. To think, ponder, dream. And to pause from receiving information or giving information.
Seriously important. Thanks.
My pleasure Bon 🙂
Hi Tom-
Great ideas. I have too many and find myself generating new things, but then not following up on the others.
I was let go in Feb and really would like to freelance full time. I have a personal blog that I am stumbling through with the technical set ups and links. I’d love any feedback you might have on it. I am primarily doing the blogs to create income for myself, as well as an online portfolio of my writing. I do have a Journalism degree, but my published articles are literally newsprint. I left my writing to the side for a while and pursued commissioned sales in advertising, software and commercial moving, of all things. Back to today….
I am also working on a second blog, where the focus is more business-like. It will launch in the next few weeks. It is about small, unique businesses in Milwaukee. I have interviewed about 15 folks so far, and need to write up the posts and finish the theme build out.
My last major thought is that I have a product I want to bring to market. I really do think it has legs, but I don’t know how to work with the companies that have the patents on some of the technology my product needs. I am fearful to ask for their help- they could take the idea and run.
Anywho, great post, I enjoy your blog and hope to nail down my focus soon. One step at a time.
Hey Tiffany,
If you ask me it sounds like you have too much on your plate. I would recommend working on your Milwaukee business blog and use it as a referral machine for your freelancing. Focus on getting some clients in and generating a regular income then branch out as and when the time permits.
Cheers,
Tom
I dedicate most of my time for myself only.. including my blog and my earnings. Nothing more matters much.
Dear Tom, Is not always easy to think indiscriminately. It needs a certain way of thinking that requires to leave behind a lot of things, you have build up upon. And that makes it very difficult. But as a general principle, I agree with that and, if done properly, the advantages can be of major importance.
Hey Takis,
On the contrary, I believe that thinking indiscriminately is very easy. You literally just sit in silence and do nothing. That’s all thinking indiscriminately is!
Cheers,
Tom
Hi Tom,
I struggled with this one since my mind wouldn’t sit still (maybe that’s the point) but what I did come up with is that I need to spend more time working on semi-residual income streams in my business such as website management and hosting.
So, the next step is build a marketing plan around this idea.
Big thanks for the prompt on this one.
cheers,
Karl
No problem Karl!