A Creative Goldmine

If you have ever been to IKEA you recognize this escalator. We spent a fun evening there seeing all the creative ideas, trying to pronounce the names of our favorite items, and eating of course. We bought a few little things and one big thing. And yes, we will spend the rest of the weekend putting everything together and organizing our home.

While we were waiting for an item to be ‘picked’ I spoke to a young woman who had never been to IKEA before. She was returning a gift and was then going to shop for it’s replacement. She asked lots of questions and was amazed when I said she could eat dinner, see the rooms, and buy anything in the store on the spot. She had never heard of such a thing, and was even more excited after our chat. She asked me what I liked most about IKEA. I said it was a creative goldmine. The use of space, the ingenuity, the options, and the endless ideas, and the prices amaze me on every visit. This time was no exception.

On the drive home I thought about the creative goldmine thing. And what really attracts me is that no idea is ever considered dumb or crazy. No idea is too out there, and even simple things like beds and bathroom sinks are designed to make you think differently. You might not like everything, but someone shopping there will buy it and take it home. Someone will get the idea and someone will insert it into their world and do amazing things because of it. Creativity is key, and not being afraid to see and do different.

See and do different. Think out of our comfortable selves. Organize and arrange, ponder and seek new ideas. It made me wonder how many ideas I have let die on the vine because I thought they were too crazy or silly or zany to survive. I thought about the ideas others have provided that I shut down by not being open to something unique. I thought about the nagging thoughts in my head that haunt my dreams simply because fear prevents me from executing with enthusiasm. And then I thought about this shopping cart not rolling because someone invented a way to ‘click’ it into place while it slowly rides the slope. Brilliant. Practical. Revolutionary.

Think today about something revolutionary that requires you to act directly, then simply do it. Be open to the ideas that make you uncomfortable and let them free your soul from being haunted.