The New Idea Burden

We're always looking for it, aren't we? That wonderful, vacuum-sealed, never been seen before idea.

Whether its a new invention, a new story idea, a new sales technique, a new technology, or just a new thought to put on twitter, turn into a YouTube video, and bask in viral glory.



It can be frustrating, particularly in today's world. 20 years ago, we could at least have an idea that, if no one we knew had heard of, was a new idea. At least until we did a patent check. We could be pithy and funny and no one would check to see if we'd ripped it off, intentionally or not, off the Internet.

Would you steal from this man?

Today, its tough to even write a blog post without feeling I'm ripping it off from somewhere. Over in Speak & Deliver, I offer advice to speakers. There are tens of thousands of other blogs, websites, books, cd-sets, videos, and subscription services, and real-life coaches that do the same. As you might suspect, I read a lot of their work - even review their books, from time to time. I have a list of other speaking blogs in my own blog!

Frankly, it can be paralyzing. We don't want to be unoriginal, we don't want to appear to be copying other people's work. And, of course, we don't want to be boring. If I write about How to Give a Great Introduction, I don't want to do it the same way everyone else has done, or do it within days of someone else in my circle of peers writing about it.

Should we just start ignoring everything? Never expose ourselves to another blog, book, or podcast and risk hearing our brilliant ideas being used by others? Seems rational, doesn't it?

Rational Insanity. What I refer to today as The New Idea Burden - which somebody else has probably else called it somewhere, someway, somewhen.

But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter who had the idea first, it matters what YOU do with it right NOW.

Unless you are deliberately plagiarising, duplicating plans for the next model of Porsche, or selling term papers, its OK. Chances are nobody cares.

Speak, write, draw, paint, play, invent the way you want to. We're all influenced by the everything we've ever experienced. And if a great idea exists, chances are you're not the only person to think of it. And if you do nothing with it, you'll just be copying the countless others who suffer from the same rational insanity of The New Idea Burden. 


If you've suffered as I have, stop it already. Use the key in your hand, and unshackle your feet, and get moving. There are millions of people waiting to read your next book, watch your video, comment on your blog - even if Chris Brogan just did the same thing on one of his multiplicity of blogs.

The real challenge now, which I'll leave to another day, is The Traffic Burden - getting those millions to know and care that you exist.

Keep building your Self-Defined Success!