Based on years of experience, here’s a list of what not to do, if you ever have a brilliant idea:

Act like you never felt that tingling sensation in the bottom of your toes when that idea first popped into your head in the middle of the night.

Overwhelm yourself with the mundane, routine, and everyday tasks of life.

Tell somebody about that idea then never talk about it again because you never talk to them again.

Write down everything that you wanted to do and then lose the little napkin, big notebook, and Word document that you wrote it on.

Wait until you have a whole bunch of money.

Listen to someone tell you why that idea won’t work, can’t happen, or doesn’t make sense.

Take on a hobby that you will never be passionate about.

Pretend that your 9-5 job is the only thing that can fulfill you.

Ignore your gut feeling.

Never align your means to your end.

Wait until your kids grow up (I wish I would’ve wrote that children’s book, The Adventures of Nia and J.R., in 1997! She’s grown and J.R., my parent’s Jack Russell Terrier, has been gone for years!).

Keep talking about what you’re going to do, but never take one baby step to make it happen.

Be mortified to step out of the box, be different, weird, or strange.

Never ask anyone for help.

Here’s a list of what to do if you ever have a brilliant idea:

Start.

Go.

Begin.

Move.

It’s that simple.

Unfortunately, the what not to do list contributed to my long list of idea regrets that has spanned decades.

• 4Goodness Sake – A mentoring program for young girls
• Adventures of Nia and J.R. – A children’s book
• The Hidden Treasure – Another children’s book
• God’s Beauty Shop Online- An online women’s workshop on the meaning of true beauty
• Challenge Me To Grow – The original, signature program of GoneGirlGo
• The Training Trio – A business venture
• A Better You Extended – A follow-up session to a career development program

Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and find my motivation and thinking behind these ideas. I wish I could confront that Zoe who didn’t give herself permission to start; that Zoe who refused to follow-through because she didn’t have the time; that Zoe who was afraid to step out of her comfort zone; that Zoe who didn’t believe in herself.

Well, I can’t go back in time. But I’ve been confronting that Zoe.

By giving my ideas a chance, here’s what’s happening to me…

• I’m uncovering a powerful sense of self-determination that I’ve never experienced before.
• I’m more vibrant and lively. I actually want to workout for its energizing benefits so that I’m not weary from putting in extra hours after my 9-5.
• I’m more willing to explore possibilities, but with clarity. For example, if an idea pops into my head, I take time to consider its worthiness. If  it aligns with my absolutes (thanks Karen G. – I’ll write more about this later), it might be worth my time.
• I’m cultivating a bias toward action in myself. I actually promised myself that if I write down any idea, then I have to do it.

I have a choice to keep GoneGirlGo in my head and add it to my list of idea regrets again. I’d hate to think of what would happen if I did. GoneGirlGo has become more than an idea, but my contribution to add something special to the planet. And in return, I get that something special back.

Yeh, I’ve got those idea regrets, but hey, I’m not mad.

You may have a long list of idea regrets too, but try not to beat yourself up. It’s not worth it. And you’d be wasting time when you could be making your idea happen.

If you’re ready, and one of those ideas still resonates, why don’t you start, go, begin, or move? As you begin the journey, track what’s happening to you. How is the process of making your idea blossom changing you? If you’re already on the journey, start tracking how your idea is affecting you now in your journal. 

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this topic, feel free to comment on this post. For a more private exchange, email me at zoe@gonegirlgo.com.

Here’s to no more long lists of idea regrets!🌺

Zoe