Ideas Generate More Ideas

In the earlier stages of my career, I was eager to launch a small business that could make a significant impact. I was filled with ambition and confidence, yet largely inexperienced, armed with more theories than practical knowledge. Nevertheless, I began jotting down promising ideas that could eventually evolve into a business.

As I chronicled these ideas, I experienced a phenomenon similar to what I discussed in my article about lessons learned as a novice writer: an abundance of ideas flowed from my mind. With time, my collection of ideas grew substantially, and I felt a sense of accomplishment. I believed that the odds of entrepreneurial success could be enhanced by a wealth of innovative concepts—after all, more ideas meant more possibilities. The brilliance of those ideas radiated a warm glow.

However, as I attempted to act on these concepts, I began to see the darker side emerge.

The Shadows of Self-Rejection

Within the realm of ideas lurks self-rejection, which can manifest in various ways. In my early career, I expected my self-rejection to stem from sharing my entrepreneurial ambitions with others, but I found myself retreating into the shadows far earlier than anticipated. I was rejecting my ideas before I even had a chance to act on them.

Every time I contemplated taking steps toward a promising idea, I would pick it up, admire its potential, and then set it aside, retreating into self-doubt. The problem was that none of my ideas felt sufficiently strong to pursue.

My extensive list of business ideas should have been empowering, yet choosing one to follow often sent my mind spiraling into thoughts of why it might fail. Instead of facing an inner critic telling me "you can't do this" or "the business will fail," I confronted a different form of self-rejection: preemptively declaring failure before even starting.

This pattern persisted throughout my early career, during my time in business school, and through various local entrepreneurial workshops. Ideas were generated and recorded, yet all progress halted at the critical moment of selecting one to actualize.

Fortunately, my period in the shadows eventually drew to a close.

Illuminating the Path Forward

About a year into my role as an issue manager, I began to uncover the root of my self-rejection. I was imposing impossibly high standards on myself. In that role, I had little control over the pace or outcomes of my responsibilities, relying heavily on the expertise of others to achieve success. This reliance was humbling and, at times, frustrating. In response, I began to overcompensate in areas where I could exert control. If an issue landed on my desk, I felt compelled to resolve it flawlessly.

This pursuit of perfection permeated my entrepreneurial spirit. I subconsciously held my ideas to an unattainable standard, leading to a cycle where nothing felt worthy of pursuit.

When I came to this realization, I was left feeling shocked and guilty—shocked that I had been my own obstacle, and guilty for setting a standard for myself that I would never impose on others. I was also conflicted: my desire to produce exceptional work had led me to believe that such high standards were beneficial.

The shadows of self-rejection cost me dearly. Today, I remain vigilant about my thoughts and feelings during moments of creativity. When I find myself anticipating failure, I pause to ask a challenging question: "What am I truly afraid of?"

Confronting that question can be daunting, and at times, it reveals harsh truths lurking in the shadows. Yet, it also serves as a reminder that I miss every opportunity if I don’t take the shot.

Entrepreneurship, personal transformation, and disciplined productivity are difficult enough without the added burden of self-rejection.

Cheers,

Adam