Burn old ideas, burn! (Episode 223)
A few months ago, the house that I used as storage for my book “The Idea Book” burnt down in a fire. All the books went up in flames!
I took it as a positive sign.
A sign that I should move on.
The book has served me really well. It has sold 250,000 copies (not bad for a self-published book), been translated to, I think, 17 languages and was included in “The 100 Best Business Books of All Time” etc. It was still selling well years after it came out. And most importantly I have hundreds and hundreds of amazing stories from people who have told me how much the book has helped them become more creative.
But I am now done with that book.
The fire sent me the message that I should let the book go, to push me to start writing a new book. A book that, I hope, will become even more successful, and help even more people.
Like an “idea phoenix”, creativity can obtain new life for a new idea by rising from the ashes of an old one.
Sometimes we need to kill one idea to give us space for an even better one to emerge.
What idea do you need to (metaphorically!) set on fire and turn into ashes so that you can move on to an even better idea?
A picture of the cover of a book burnt in the fire, and a picture of the fire itself.
Would love to know your thoughts. Post your comment on LinkedIn.
15
Aug