Ideas will change the course of your life, that is if you act on them. Ideas that have only been thought about do nothing if no action is attached to them. On their own ideas are powerless, unless they become a reality by living them out. Many people have great ideas, but they fail to implement them and execute their potential. Ralph Waldo Emerson said,

“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”

We can’t let our ideas sit around in our mind to the point of spoiling. There is a shelf-life to ideas if not acted on. Everyone has ideas, but not many act on their ideas. The difference between the successful and the unsuccessful is their ability to act on great ideas. French Playwright Molier said,

“Men Are All Alike In Their Promises. It Is Only In Their Deeds That They Differ.”

Turning ideas into action is the hard part of the idea process. It is when you have to step out and GO. If you sit on an idea for too long you will squash it.

So how do you turn ideas into action?

First, you have to trust your ideas. This may seem simple, but you have to believe in your ideas or you will never step out and act on them. No one ever truly knows if their idea will work on the front end. It is not until we step out and act that we know if the idea will work.

Years ago I was reading Dave Ramsey’s book EntreLeadership. In it he mentioned everyone should have multiple streams of income by making money at things you love to do. So I began to think about what I love to do that I could make money doing. Well, I had an idea pop into my mind (because I spent time thinking). I have always loved painting artwork over the years and would even make all my friends that came over to our house paint a landscape as I walked them through the process. I literally instructed 10-15 friends (over the years) in my garage on how to paint. So I starting thinking about how to turn that into an opportunity to make money. I figured out a way to provide art classes with all the material provided for people to walk into a class, have everything they need ready to go, and paint a 16×20 landscape from beginning to end in 2 hours. Now, over 3 years later, I have had hundreds of people take my art classes. I even do leadership team building classes, and motivational keynotes using art. It has been a blast doing what I love to do and making money at it! I have also made online video lessons on how to paint and sold my artwork in shows, fairs, parties, classes, etc…

None of this would have happened without thinking of the idea and then committing to act on it. I didn’t know if anyone would take my art class when I made the flyer and posted it on my Facebook account. In fact, the night I came up with the idea in my bed I made a flyer, priced out the materials, and promoted the event with a date I had picked. Did I know all the details? NOPE! I just knew I had a great idea. I figured if people sign up I will figure out the rest…and guess what? I did! My art classes are a blast and everyone has incredible things to say afterwards…THEY LOVE IT! Pretty good idea I’d say. The point is…I had to step out and act on the idea or it would have done nothing expect float in my mind, on paper, and expired to its death.

The only reason why your ideas won’t work is because you haven’t put action to them.

What ideas do you need to stop sitting on and start acting on?