The Context
One reason our sparks of inspiration often fizzle out is, they’re not given the proper space to become real ideas. They either get abandoned too quickly out of fear, or they get stuck on the shelf too long out of neglect. The middle ground for execution, then, is the fine line between patience and persistence. Because creativity is a long arc game. Making things is a process that requires ongoing oxygenation.
The Tool
Inner Oxygenation
INNER OXYGENATION — Giving small ideas a fighting chance to breathe and grow inside your mind by nurturing them with encouragement, freedom and affirmation
How many of your creative sparks have fizzled out because they weren’t given proper space to become real ideas? If you have ever struggled with this problem, here’s one way to think about it. For a fire to occur in nature, three things are needed. First is heat, aka, the spark. This must be hot enough to cause the ignition. Next is oxygen, aka, the passage of time. This needs to be long enough to create new impressions with each passing period. And finally, fuel, aka, the physical work you contribute to keep moving the story of your spark forward. It must be consistent enough so that the embers don’t die down. Heat, oxygen and fuel. Some innovators have called this process slow cooking, creative tinkering, forced incubation, and so on. But regardless of what we call it, the practice is still the same. Let your idea breathe enough to grow into itself. Be persistent, but also be patient.
The Rest
When you breathe in and breathe out, trust yourself, trust the process, and if you stick around long enough, something simmering inside of you will be brought it to a boil. Who knows? You might be able to look back one day and think to yourself, wow, that’s one hell of a fire. Don’t forget marshmallows. Are you slowly and organically building the pillars of your creative scaffolding?
The Benefits
Minimize the barriers to creating new things
Overcome cynical people and attitudes that gridlock execution
Reduce the effort of completing the first version of your work
Increase psychological safety so team members are inspired to keep innovating in the future