6 Simple Steps: Turning Old and Tired into Fresh Inspiration
I do not consider myself a visionary. I am learning I do have a muscle for vision, but it needs building up. Right now, I’m practicing by flipping furniture. Here’s what the process looks like for me:
Look at inspiration – when you don’t have an “automatic” eye for vision, it helps to look at others’ visions for their projects. It makes you realize what is possible. And that the possibilities may be beyond your line of sight. That doesn’t make them less valid or less beautiful.
Looking for projects – now that I’ve got some ideas tucked away, it’s time to look for projects. I consider what I want most, what I think is the best fit for my goal, or what would be the fullest expression of my creativity.
Commit – this is a scary step. You go back and forth, you make all of your negotiations, and you decide “Okay. I’m in.” In order to be ready for this you have to know what you’re looking for, what you’re willing to spend, what it could turn into, and if the risk is worth it.
Prepare – Just because you’re committed doesn’t mean you’re ready. Now you must prepare for the project. Do you have a space to work in? What supplies do you need? You must now actualize your vision, so you can buy paints, stains, finishes to make it a reality. This is where your vision is solidified. I recommend making these decisions before you’re in the home improvement store or it can really get overwhelming.
Get your hands dirty – this is my favorite part. Time to actually DO something. I love taking things apart and seeing how they work. Stripping back layers to find what’s underneath. I feel far more comfortable making decisions with data and information about what I’m working with. Any remaining gaps in the vision fall into place. You get to start moving towards it.
Lots of hard work – It’s important to know that the project itself is a LOT of hard work. It’s hours of sanding, lifting, disassembling, and reassembling. It’s not all fun and pretty. But with a clear vision and the right materials, it’s just a matter of time and diligence until you arrive at the finished product.
When I think about how I got here – trying my hand at entrepreneurship – I can see some of these steps clearly. My inspiration came somewhat naturally, after working under other entrepreneurs. Some were bad business owners, running good businesses. Others had all the best intentions but couldn’t get out of their own way. Still others seemed to have everything except enough resources. Some were making slow progress, others were blind to the fact that any progress was necessary. I wanted to help these people – at least those who were looking for help.
I was inspired by the possibility of jumping from place to place, project to project, leaving each better than I had found it. Not all of what I’m doing right now feels like it’s aligned with that vision but I’m inching towards it.
Right now, I’m focusing on prioritizing the right opportunities and letting go of the wrong ones (practicing committing - and not committing.) I’m creating content for the first time and developing some promotional materials so I can expand my networking efforts. I’m setting goals, practicing the things I know I need more of, and getting ready to “launch” into my own community (preparing & looking for projects.)
As I reflect on all of this, I’m realizing that I am itching to get my hands dirty. I’ve been thinking a LOT and I’m eager to start DOING something. I need to find training ground, to practice, to put myself under the microscope as I continue to search for other candidates.