Winning comes from creating in public. You can’t win if you keep it to yourself.
It’s the day after labor day and it’s time to get to work, but not just any work. I’m talking about the kind of work that lights you up from the mind all the way down.
I have three questions for you. In the last six months, did you create something that excites you and share it? Did you promote an idea with passion? Did you do something because you believed in it, even though others told you that you couldn’t?
If you answered yes even once, you understand that nothing happens until someone goes public. An idea is created in the mind and manifested in the marketplace. It’s only worth what others are willing to pay in terms of time, money or buzz.
No matter what field you’re in, in the next month, make sure that you can answer yes, yes and yes to the three questions. Why? Because if you’re not creating and sharing ideas that excite you, you’re probably just complaining. If you’re not promoting your ideas with passion, you’re probably boring. And if you’re not backing yourself by defying the critics, you’re probably living someone else’s dream.
How’s that for a wake up call? I give one to myself every day because if I don’t, something else will. For example, Dietrich Mateschitz, the founder of Red Bull, said, “If we don’t create the market, it doesn’t exist.” Mateschitz pioneered the global energy drink market through “extreme marketing”. The drink itself isn’t even patented but the events are. Red Bull stages thrilling events that don’t even have spectators but generate worldwide coverage. From ice climbing to cliff diving to out-of-space freefalling, Red Bull creates the buzz that reaches the “alpha bees” who influence the buying habits of thousands.
Anything is obvious once it’s been thought of. Red Bull is a global giant today, but Mateschitz put his life on the line to help his brand fly – just like any entrepreneur, inventor, innovator or change agent, including you and me. Inside every can of Red Bull is a secret ingredient: an idea gives you wings.
Some of us will rock the world with our public creations. The rest of us may cause just a ripple but that’s enough to cause the waves that are transforming the world.
My goal with this message is to cause a ripple that inspires you to put it out there. What’s your idea that gives you wings? What will motivate you to create in public? What will enable you to fly above the fear of failure?
The paradox of creating in public is that taking the risk of failing publicly protects you against the risk of failing privately. Regret is excruciating. Lost opportunities lead to more lost opportunities. Losing can become a habit.
Winning, on the other hand, comes from an IDEA – Imagination, Determination, Energy, Action.
Imagination means forming an image in your mind of what can be done. It is the result of thought and talk. It can happen in a heartbeat or take a lifetime.
Determination is the will to follow through. It is the tenacity to bring the image to life against all odds.
Energy is the capacity to execute with sustained enthusiasm and excitement. It is as much physical as it is mental.
Action is all the steps that are taken to succeed. Actions are the only things that make a difference. Imagination, determination and energy mean nothing to anyone but you if you don’t take action. You don’t have to be perfect to act. You don’t even have to be good. Acting is how you become good. The right thing to do is to do it right now. Then course correct as you go along.
So here are Lipkin’s ten steps to winning by creating in public:
- Begin by thinking about what you can create that excites you – big or small.
- Carve out the time to develop your thoughts and share them with others.
- Discipline yourself to make “creating in public” a daily ritual.
- Record your ideas as they come to you. Keep a journal – virtual or physical.
- Choose your best idea and package it so that others can see how it will benefit them.
- Promote your best idea to the people it will help the most.
- Develop it by patenting it, building it, or publishing it.
- Champion it with knowledge and passion. Enroll others. Help them take ownership of it.
- Refresh it, reinvent it or repurpose it when required.
- Let it go if it isn’t working and begin again. And then again. And again.
Winning isn’t just about winning. You can do everything right and still get it wrong. Luck, circumstance, taste, and human whimsy can be decisive. Winning means being worthy of your gifts by giving all you can as often as you can.
Ok, let’s take it from the top…
