Ideas are like light bulbs. When powered properly, they expel darkness, and brighten up a place, an industry or a nation. Either little or great, we all get ideas. We are always looking for the next thing, a new opportunity; another possibility to something earlier deemed impossible.
Unfortunately, many ideas are killed before they achieve fruition, not because they aren’t so great, but because we just didn’t know where to start or how to develop them.

Every idea is capable of multiplying into a multimillion enterprise. It all depends on how it is managed within its time. Ideas are time bound. Just as the fertility of seeds depreciates with time, the longer you shelf your ideas, the less likely they’ll yield bounty if you eventually cultivate them. You will never comprehend the potentials in an idea until you set it in motion.

Let’s learn a few lessons from the light bulb on how to ignite our ideas.

1.You need a bulb.
An electric bulb is valued because there is a need for it. It is because of that need that you wouldn’t mind walking long distances, even late at night, to get a replacement if your bulb goes out.

Similarly, until you see the need for that idea that keeps you up at night, you may never be motivated to pursue it. First, you are your own customer. You must buy into your idea, before others do.

Guess what? Ideas don’t just come; there is a need for them. Nations are seeking for insights into sustainable ways of protecting the environment, improving health, education, agriculture and so on. What gaps will your idea fill?

2. Research
The choice of a bulb depends on the need, and most importantly, the nature of the lamp-holder. Hence, before spending your cash to get a bulb, it is necessary to find out how the fitting of the bulb looks, whether it’s screw, or pin, as well as the size.

Ideas don’t always match or fit into all situations. Thus, in order not to be frustrated in your efforts to kickstart your thoughts, you need to carry out a research on who your idea serves and how best to serve it. For non-business ideas, it’s similarly vital to do the feasibility studies. This helps you to be clear about the concept and what you want to achieve with it.

3. Be Enlightened
Though the function of your bulb is to brighten up your room, you need another light to fix it; you don’t connect a bulb in darkness.

You need light in the process of empowering your ideas. Enlightenment either through formal or informal learning is required. The mistake most people make is the belief that it’s unnecessary to consult experts in the industry of their ideas. This, most times, is attributed to the fear that the project might be hijacked. However, inexperience is one of the major factors causing the untimely exit and suffocation of new ideas.

To achieve the best with an idea, read wide on the idea, seek audience with trusted experts in the industry, and be willing to learn from others.

4. Take the Initiative
Fix the bulb and switch on the light.
If you’ve done your homework on the analysis, the next thing is to act immediately. This begins by writing a clear and convincing project plan along with a realistic timeline for implementation. Don’t let your idea die at its foetal stage. It’s your responsibility to bring it to life.