Your Ideas, Like Soda or Fine Wine?

Mar 13, 2011 Posted on Mar 13, 2011 | 7 comments

Your Ideas, Like Soda or Fine Wine?

Hi All,

I had a revelation today. I was thinking about all the projects and ideas I have come up with over the years. Ideas for businesses, ideas for cool inventions, ideas on how little things like the Universe work, so many ideas.

I have taken action on many of my ideas as well. I have started up websites and worked on business plans and you know what? None of them have seen great or even minor success.

Now I could, and have, labeled myself a failure in life for all these ideas that have gone nowhere.

Today’s revelation was that ideas can be seen as different types of drinks and how they are made and consumed. Let me elaborate, I can see that dazed look on your face.

Some ideas we have are like soda pop, once made and caned they are meant to be consumed right away and some are like fine wines or liquor, they need to be bottled and then aged for months; years; sometimes decades before they are ready for consumption.

I have been a soda pop guy in my consumption of my own ideas. I want to consume them as soon as I have them. I want to enjoy their taste right away. Today I realized that most of the ideas and concepts that I have are not soda pop. They are like fine wines and need to age to come to their full potential.

I have just been giving up too soon. I have expected to enjoy things right away and when I don’t get that enjoyment, right away, I toss the idea out before it has had it chance to age into something worth waiting for.

Have you had a great idea that didn’t work out? If you haven’t totally thrown it out, if it is perhaps still sitting on a dusty shelf covered in cobwebs somewhere in the back of your mind, go and find it, dust it off, and see if it has aged to perfection yet.

I am looking back at some of my great ideas now with new eyes, seeing that some are getting close to their perfect age for consumption and that others still need to age more.

I am also still bottling great ideas each and every day. I know now that some of my ideas will need to age before they are ready for your consumption.

Here’s to the anticipation of getting to uncork many a wondrous idea in our futures.

Peace,
-Ron-

http://twitter.com/AtticusUncensor Atticus Uncensored

What a wonderful analogy, Ron! Like you, I’m constantly adding to my “ideas” folders, but the few I pursue are slow and steady processes. The business I started in the early ’90′s was moderately successful from the get-go (thanks to one little client – Apple!), but it took years to establish my niche and my network before I felt “success”. After giving that up in 2005, I’ve been “working” various ideas (which means establishing relationships with new people/companies) and I’m beginning to see the real opportunities. I guess that means, overall, I’m more of an aged-wine entrepreneur, but when the fire’s hot sometimes a quick soda is needed too!

I hope you give your ideas a little more time to marinate — I see huge success in your future!

Heidi & Atticus
http://www.atticusuncensored.com
“commentary to give you paws…”
http://www.MoveLikeYouUsedTo.com Allison Rapp

Great metaphor! I’ve always had more ideas than I could act on, and until I discovered blogging and video challenges, I Ieft a lot of great ideas unexplored. Somewhere between grape soda and perfectly aged wine is a very nice bottle that one can uncork and be grateful that it’s there, instead of worrying that it isn’t something more.
http://home-decorating-makeovers.com/ Jennifer Duchene

Ron I just love what you wrote. I can see how ruminating and “aging” with change and time, is opening you up to a whole new way of looking back. It sounds like you are coming into your own, and I for one am thrilled to raise a glass to your successes, the ones you have forgotten and all those that will be ready to uncork soon and later. Salut!

Jennifer Duchene
Home Makeover Mixtress blending lifestyle and laughter
http//LYShome.com
Jan

Love it, Ron! Thanks for your humor and insight. Who knows the lifespan or arc of one’s ideas? It’s true, you don’t ever know at first. I remember when I received the idea for my first big info product 10 years ago. I just completed the product last month!

Jan Robinson
Relationship & Sexual Intimacy Mentor
http://www.honeymoonspirit.com
http://flavordesigns.com Franziska San Pedro

Hi Ron,

I just dusted one of my ideas and took it off the shelf and turned into a business: my talent to paint with oil. After my last exhibition in 1995, I took a different path that at the time was the right thing to do. I learned to speak at least one foreign language fluent (in my case English) while I worked in many different countries. I settled down 3 years ago and while I was thinking what I could do next, I opened that drawer and the idea became reality.
Sometimes it is not the right time to put it into reality and it has to wait. But in the back of our mind is a small drawer where those ideas are stored and used when it is time.

Lovely analogy!
Franziska San Pedro
The Abstract Impressionist Artress
http://www.trulymadlyfit.com Jessica B

Great column…It is true that it can get frustrating after some time with the slow process that is a good idea journey..but the main point is to keep those ideas coming right? The right one will find its niche. Thanks Ron.
Alara Castell

Well put, Ron! There are some things that just take time and we have to let it sit! Great reminder and love the use of soda and wine.
Alara K. Castell
Your Sassy Spiritual Guide