The “I” in Idea is You.

Brain Fact: Every day, your brain produces 70,000 thoughts. Sure, most of them are just mundane autopilot notions, like the nagging reminders to haul your ass out of bed, go to the toilet, shovel some grub down your throat, or, oh, shit, don't forget to tweet, Blah, blah, blah. But buried amidst this endless stream of mental dump, there lies the occasional nugget of brilliance. Those are the thoughts that I like to call the catalyst of change. The ones that make you go, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if...?"

We're all constantly balancing on two possible futures. On one hand, we have the accidental outcome, the result of simply stumbling through life like a sleepwalker. And on the other, we have the designed one, the path where we seize control, shape our destinies, and give meaning to our existence. These catalyst ideas, they're like the wild manifestations of your brain's inner creativity, its desperate plea to become a designer.

Magic happens when you dare to visualize a different outcome and actually do something about it. It's when you take those seemingly crazy ideas and breathe life into them.  That is when you become a designer.

So, embrace those sparks of brilliance. Nurture them and let them guide you towards a future that's beautifully crafted and entirely your own. Your brain, with its 70,000 thoughts a day, is itching to break free from the shackles of mediocrity. Answer its call.

Here's the brutal truth though. You are the ultimate obstacle standing between your ideas and their transformation into reality. For better or worse, it all rests on your shoulders. We're all blessed with these mind-blowing ideas that pop up throughout the day, every day. But let's face it, most of us are spineless wimps when it comes to taking action. It's either because it seems like tons of work, or worse yet, we fail to recognize that we're the very person meant to bring those ideas to life. And my personal favorite excuse: "Ah, shit! Something similar already exists." Whatever the reason may be, for every cool idea within you, your ego or fear will come up a laundry list of reasons why you shouldn't pursue it.

As the founder of a creative agency, I've been granted a front-row seat to witness the varying lifespans of ideas in all their stages and forms. Some ideas barely make it past the threshold before keeling over and kicking the bucket. Sad, really. While there are those ideas that go on to become true disruptors in our physical world.

People harbor countless dreams of turning their ideas into tangible apps, products, or businesses. But alas, fear is a fickle bitch, and it pounces quickly. It breaks my heart to witness it. I yearn for people to wholeheartedly embrace their creative instincts and bring their visions to life. Even if you stumble and fall, even if failure becomes your frequent companion, at least you had the audacity to try, to do something and allow your ideas the space they need to grow.

Cast aside the shackles of doubt and unleash your creative spirit upon the world. Don't be deterred by the naysayers or the whispers of self-doubt that echo within your mind. Embrace the uncertainty, the possibility of failure, and make things happen. Let your ideas flourish, bloom, and materialize. Because in the end, it's better to have tried and failed than to live a life imprisoned by the regret of unfulfilled dreams.

You can argue that there's no shortage of bad ideas out there, and hey, I can't dispute that. There's a spectrum of terrible ideas swirling around.  Out of those 70,000 thoughts we entertain on a daily basis, I'd venture a guess that more than three-quarters of them are downright dumb. But here's the thing: Should we dismiss the remaining few so quickly? Should we let our own doubts play the role of executioner and snuff them out before they've had a fighting chance to grow?

Think about it. Human progress, the leaps and bounds we've made in technology, the earth-shattering scientific breakthroughs that have reshaped our world—they all happened because we had the audacity to allow some ideas to stick around long enough to mature. We gave them a fighting chance.

Now, let me tell you what sets apart the truly exceptional designers from the rest of the population. It's their method of weeding out ideas, the process by which they determine which ones get to live and which ones must bite the dust. You see, for a designer or a creative soul, the selection of ideas isn't some arbitrary affair. But rather, it's a process guided by specific criteria and a meticulous decision-making process. I can't guarantee that every designer out there follows this approach, but the truly exceptional ones most certainly do.

Early on in their journey, a good designer must master one crucial skill—the art of critique. The act of receiving criticism has taught me not to take things personally. Critique is not an assault on your being; it's an objective evaluation of the work or idea presented. It's a healthy conversation that delves into the feasibility and potential ideas.

Once you grasp this fundamental truth, you can set aside your own ego and view things objectively. When you separate your personal pride from your creative output, you become comfortable sharing your ideas with others, free from the fear of ridicule.

It's through sharing and engaging in dialogue that ideas find the nourishment they need to progress to the next stage of realization. When you apply this approach to the realms of business or product design, you'll find it significantly easier to determine whether an idea should be nurtured or buried. So, the next time that spark of inspiration ignites within you—a grand idea for an app, a business or a product—consider these steps to objectively validate your thoughts:

Step 1: Ask yourself, does this idea solves an immediate problem you have?

Step 2: Ask others if they experience similar problem, and what is their proposed solution for it

Step 3: Think of a very basic rudimentary solution for it

Step 4: Present it to the people and ask their opinion. Does it solve their problem? What would the do different ?

Step 5: Refine it and ask again

Step 6: Prototype the solution and release it to the world

Step 7: Keep improving with time and feedback

This frame work is based on design thinking. A process which allows companies and products be developed and grown. This is how big companies are able to scale to unimaginable heights. By not siloing ideas but rather fostering conversations about them. Seeking feedback early on and  being comfortable with critique allows small ideas become big leaps or progress.

I know it can be super scary to put yourself out there like that. The fear of being called or perceived as dumb can be crippling. But trust me when I say this, all of this is just noise in side your head. Kill it and let the i in idea stand with pride.