Idea Pipeline

2007-01-31T21:29:00.000-08:00

*****News Flash*****

The book that I mentioned in my last post is out and hot off the presses - Needless to say, I am excited. Click on the picture below to find out more about this awesome book.

I received the book this weekend and I cannot put it down. Of course, Chapter 39 is of great interest to me because --- It is my chapter. LOL!!!!!!

Let's see - there are 101 tips from experts in every field - My chapter is about ideas and creativity - click on link below - you won't be sorry. David Riklan is offering mega-bonuses - so you are definitely getting more value than what you will pay for the book itself.

To your success...

2006-12-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

Great News!! I was selected to be a Contributing Author in an upcoming Self Improvement book titled: 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life - Volume 3 - Featured authors include Ken Blanchard, Les Brown, Mark Victor Hansen, Byron Katie and many other experts. This book will be out in Jan 2007. Stay tuned!!

2006-10-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

Where Do I Start?

Do you have so many ideas, projects, and goals that you don't know where to start? Do you feel bad because you are so indecisive? Do you start many projects, but finish very few?

Have you ever wondered why you don't finish the projects that you start? I believe that this happens because creative people possess the ability to do many, many things and guess what - they do. Which means that they tend to start project #1 and before it's complete they have already started projects #2 and #3.

The purpose of this post is not to condemn you or to tell you that you must finish one project before you start another one, but to recommend that you use your creative energy in a more focused and powerful manner by working on your creative projects first.

You must use your best energy on projects that require you to be the most creative.

You are at your best when you work on your creative ideas because you already have unlimited creative power which is amplified when combined with your natural energy.

Here's how you do it:

Identify the project that you are most passionate about and that calls for you to be at your creative best.

Set aside an hour or more to work on this project.

Give yourself permission to work exclusively on this project - single-minded focus ensures success.

The last step is to enjoy being immersed in this creative endeavor.

Be blessed,

Vernon

2006-09-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I just completed a series of articles based upon Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich. If you have ever read the book, you know that Mr. Hill speaks about a secret that is mentioned over one hundred times in the book.

I don't know about you, but I have read that book over twenty times and I have never identified what the "secret" is. So, I decided to re-read the book and find out what this secret is all about.

I decided to analyze the story of Edwin C. Barnes and his quest to become a partner with the great inventor, Thomas Edison.

You can read the result of my analysis by reading the articles listed below:

The Secret of Think and Grow Rich - Part I

The Secret of Think and Grow Rich - Part II

The Secret of Think and Grow Rich - Part III

Enjoy...

2006-06-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why some people are able to create great ideas at will?

Do you think that they were born with the ability to create ideas?

Do you also think that you are not creative or that you do not have the ability to create valuable ideas?

I believe that we all have the ability to create anything that we desire. If you can imagine a goal, idea, or dream - you have the ability to bring that image to life.

All it takes is energy, effort, and persistence - it may not be easy but it is definitely possible.

You can increase your odds of becoming successful at creating and developing great ideas by studying the methods, tactics, and actions of people who have mastered the ideation process.

I have created a new website called Student of Ideas for people who want to become idea generators by becoming students of ideas.

My goal is to build a community of idea generators, so please visit and sign up for the Idea Tips newsletter.

later...

2006-05-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

Hello. I was just listening to an audio book by Jack Canfield called The Success Principles.

In the book he talks about a technique called the Rule of 5. The purpose of this technique is to help you build momentum by ensuring that you do at least 5 things everyday, no matter how small, to move you closer to accomplishing your major goal.

Consider this, if you apply this technique to writing a book - you would be able to complete a 150 page book in approx. 1 month by writing at least 5 pages everyday.

Think about how much you could accomplish if you did 5 things everyday to accomplish your goals - you would be UNSTOPPABLE!!

take care...

2006-04-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, it has been a month since I made my last post. I have been furiously writing a book proposal for a book contract contest hosted by Authors101.com.

I am finally finished with the proposal and I sent it via email. The last five weeks have been spent not only learning how to write a book proposal but actually writing it as well. I read two books on the topic

1. How to write a book proposal - Michael Larsen - Great book
2. Author 101: Best Selling Book Proposals - Rick Frishman and Robyn Freedman Spizman

I can honestly say that even if I don't win the contest, just going through the process of writing a proposal is an experience in itself. It may be harder than actually writing the book. Either way, after spending all of this time on my proposal this book will be published one way or another.

I will self publish or use the Print on Demand route which is the wave of the future for all would-be artists.

Shout-outs:

My family - what can I say - I owe you three ladies for allowing me to focus for the last few weeks - thanks a million!!

I would like to give a huge Shout Out to Roger C. Parker for reviewing my work and offering very insightful comments. If you need help or information about writing and publishing, visit Roger's website to learn how to write a nonfiction book that attracts more business than you can handle and turns you into an information machine generating multiple streams of income.

I would also like to thank my editor, Swanee Ballman for doing a lot of great work and only charging me for a third of the time she spent editing my proposal. If you need an editor or publisher, visit Swanee's website for further information.

Finally, I would like to thank Dave Bell of the Incredible Speakers Bureau for taking time out of his busy schedule to listen to my "bright" ideas. If you have ever thought about being a speaker visit Dave's website to find out what its all about.

later..

2006-03-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

I was asked a question recently that was so simple yet so profound and I think it goes to the very heart of what we think about creativity and ideas. I think most of us tend to lump both together and interchange the words at will.

The question that I was asked was, "How does creativity and ideas differ?"

How would you answer that question? Do you think there is a difference? I do and my answer is:

When I think about creativity I think of a mindset that we all possess or a way of being - I think you are creative by the things that you do and how you do them.

Ideas, on the other hand, are tangible and can be shaped and developed into physical reality by the actions you take.

Think about that for a moment....

2006-02-24T19:11:00.000-08:00

How do you find people to help you bring your ideas to life?

Let's face it, most people would rather die, than face the possibility of being rejected by a person whom they have asked to help with their goals and dreams.

Being rejected strikes at the core of your being and not only does rejection cause you to question your ideas and goals but it also causes you to doubt yourself resulting in your self-confidence taking a huge hit. You become gun-shy around people when you should be presenting your ideas with energy and gusto.

You will not become a success by yourself so you must get used to finding people with the expertise to help you define and design your goals and dreams.

Think about Alexander Bell who had to sell the idea of the telephone to his soon to be father-in-law in order to receive financial support for his idea. What would have happened if Mr. Bell had not summoned the courage to ask for assistance?

You must develop the ability to bounce back from rejection by continuing to move forward and by changing your approach until you achieve success.

Jack Canfield writes in his book, The Success Principles that instead of feeling sorry for yourself or becoming defeated, just say "Next" and move on to the next opportunity.

The worst thing that can happen if you ask someone for help is that they say no. You should immediately say "Thank you for your time" and then say "NEXT!!!"

Later...

2006-02-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

Ideas are the currency of success. How much is an idea worth to your eventual success and prosperity? Ross Perot says, "It just takes one idea to live like a king for the rest of your life." What idea will help you to make your kingdom here on earth?

I see opportunities everywhere I look. The only limit to me making the most of these opportunuties is the limits that I place upon myself. I don't have to do everything alone. I see partners and helpers all around me. I must engage these people to assist me in bringing my vision to fruition.

We must learn to embrace creative prosperity and wealth building thoughts and actions. We must all become aware of the power within us to be who and what we want to be at any level we aspire to.

To become millionaires we must become aware of opportunities from a millionaire's level of consciousness and awareness. This means that we must think about the challenges and problems faced by millionaires and more importantly how these challenges are transformed into opportunities. You do this be letting go of your old ways of thinking and doing things on a small scale with equally small results. Instead, you think big and act on an exponential scale that can affect millions of people.

You write a book that inspires thousands of people to live their dreams. You write a song that captures a specific moment in time that cuts across race, class, gender, and religion and touches millions of people, causing them to look at life differently than before they heard your song.

What impact are you making on the human race? Who are you inspiring to be better today than they were yesterday? What level do you aspire to live your life on? Are you moving towards that level or are you settling for what feels comfortable and secure because that is all that you know?

Later...

2006-02-01T07:28:00.000-08:00

Live Your Dreams, Forget Your Regets

Do you find yourself thinking about what might have been, what could have been or what should have been?

How many times have you said:

"I should have started that business when I thought of it years ago..."
"I should have put some money into Dell Computer stock back in 1993 before it took off..."

If you answered yes to any of the questions listed above, which most of us probably can, forget it - let it go - Right Now!! However, I recognize that this is easier said than done.

You must forget these thoughts because you cannot DO anything about what happened 10 years ago, 1 year ago, or even 1 day ago. You cannot physically take action now to change the outcome of failing to take action in the past.

You have control over one thing and one thing only - you have control over this moment - WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS MOMENT? Are you moving towards your goals or away from your goals?

You can live your dreams if you take this moment and do one thing that moves you closer to your dreams. Would you rather live your life looking back at what happened in the past or looking forward to the dreams you are moving enthusiastically towards?

I know what I am going to do - I am going to forget about my past inactions, failures, and false starts and move towards the life of my dreams.

What about you??

2006-01-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

I am reading a book by Earl Nightingale called "This is Earl Nightingale" and I found an interesting thought about ideas.

He proposed that you set up a daily quota for creating and developing ideas, for instance if you create 20 ideas every day for five days a week not including weekends you would develop 100 ideas every week and 5200 ideas every year.

The law of averages says that one of those 5200 ideas will probably change your life forever. Do you think you can find the time to develop 20 ideas everyday? How about 15, or 10, or even 5 ideas daily?

I have been recording my ideas for at least the last 10 years (not as consistently as I would have liked - I might add) and right now I have so many ideas, concepts, plans for various products and services that I do not have time to pursue them all.

The key for me and you is to create and record, then focus and implement the most promising ideas.

Think on this for a while...

Later.

2006-01-03T04:34:00.000-08:00

2006 is Here!! You can decide whether 2006 will be your best year yet or more of the same of what you have been experiencing in your life up to this point.

Take the time to set a direction for yourself, notice I did not say 'New Year's Resolution' because we all know what happens to those resolutions in fact, if statistics are to be believed, most people have already given up on their resolutions after the 1st of January.

I am talking about setting a direction for yourself for the next 365 days:

What do you want to have accomplished 365 days from now? In your family, job, and personal life?

What do you want to have experienced 365 days from now?

Who do you want to have met or become acquainted with 365 days from now?

Where do you want to go in the next 365 days?

How much money do you want to have in the bank 365 days from now?

Simply answer the four questions above with 3 or 4 answers that are right for you and decide to JUST DO IT - no matter what!!

You ask, is it that simple? Yes, it is that simple. Have you heard that we as people accomplish some of what we need to accomplish and all of what we want to accomplish. If you want to do it - do it.

Do something, anything, everyday to move you closer to fulfilling the answers to the questions above. Remember, inch by inch anything is a cinch.

"A journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step."

Personally, the above quotation has been the most powerful revelation to me because instead of becoming overwhelmed with trying to do too much, I have learned to take my big dreams and divide them into many small tasks that I can accomplish everyday. Before long I see my dream manifested in reality - I am telling you this is awesome and it works!!

Are you ready to take that step?

Later...

2005-12-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

How do you know if you are an idea person? Are you creative? Can you create ideas without trying too hard? What does an idea person do that other people don't?

Idea people look at what can be instead of what is right now. They look at the possibilities and opportunities, instead of the obstacles and problems.

If you present an idea person with a problem or challenge - they will immediately look for the opportunity that lies within the problem or challenge.

An idea person will look at the problem as an opportunity to do something different or to improve upon what's already being done currently.

An idea person can develop ideas rapidly, but rarely do you find one who stops at the first right answer. She will continue to develop ideas until she finds the best answer for the situation at hand.

Are you an idea person??

later....

2005-12-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

Have you ever experienced idea overload? What the heck is idea overload, you ask?
You know - those times when you have so many ideas and insights, yet lack the time and energy to pursue any of them.

On one level, I am very thankful to have an abundance of ideas, on the other hand, how do I or you choose the right idea, at the right time, for the right reasons?

I don't know about you, but I am one of those people who is always looking for ways to improve the way that I operate and I am always asking the question - "What if.." or "Why does it have to be done that way?" or any number of other questions that seek to get to the root of an issue or to seek a different way to do a particular thing.

The key to avoiding idea overload is to develop a system to record your ideas - that could be something as simple as a piece of paper or elaborate a recorded tapes and CD's alphabetized by topic sequestered away in a top secret vault 10 feet below ground - ok, I am kidding, but you get the point.

Keep your mind clutter-free - don't try to remember everything, write your ideas down and more importantly, work on the idea that will be the most valuable use of your time at the moment. If you choose to work on all of your ideas, none of them will get done, which means you will continue to live in the land of coulda, woulda, shoulda instead of the land of results, achievements, and accomplishments.

Take action on that idea and persist until you reach your goal.

I wish you much success in 2006.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

2005-12-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

I am in the process of marketing my book, The Idea Journal, and I have read numerous books and looked at various marketing programs from SEO to email marketing and I am at a loss as to where to start besides the obvious stuff.

There is definitely not a lack of resources out there to help you, I am interested in the programs that actually work and are not just hype. I believe that I am selling a valuable product that will help people tremendously - I just need to find the right medium to get it in front of the person who needs it.

Isn't that how it is with any product or service you are selling? It really does not matter how good it is if nobody knows about it.

If you have ideas related to how I can market my book on a shoestring, please email me at ideajournal@ideamerge.net.

later...

2005-12-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

The hardest part of any creative challenge is just getting started. I know that when I need to get something done, I think about it for a while and then at some point I get to it by doing SOMETHING - it could be something as simple as creating a mind map of the challenge or opportunity or it could be that I grab a 3x5 index card and start to write my thoughts out.

As soon as I get my thoughts written down, the challenge begans to take shape and as I add more details - more information flows out of me and before you know it, I have enough information to get me started in the right direction.

How do you get started? Do you stare at a blank screen or blank piece of paper waiting for inspiration to come up and introduce herself to you - "Hi, I am your Inspiration, feel free to use me anyway you like..." - Not a chance, you must do something before the inspiration will show up to assist you in your endeavors.

What gets you going? Take a walk, listen to music stretch, write out the first thought that comes to your mind - using one of these techniques should get you started - try it!!

Later...

2005-12-11T13:54:00.000-08:00

I have just completed a wonderful book called The Idea Journal - basically it is a 115 page book that is all about helping people become more successful by combining the concept of journaling with ideas, creativity, and goal setting.

In the book, I ask you a series of questions and you write the answers to those questions. As you consistently and honestly answer the questions, you will see that you have everything you need within you to live the life of your dreams.

I called it The Idea Journal because I want this book to be a catalyst for people to pursue their goals and dreams. I don't know about you but I have all of this potential within me and while I am successful in my chosen career, I know that there is more out there for me - meaning more peace, more joy, more wealth, more prosperity, more abundance, more charity, more giving, more ideas, and more ways to make my life on earth really mean something.

That is why I created The Idea Journal - I am only charging $14.99 for it, but I probably should be charging more. That is ok because, I had learned just as much by writing it as I am sure you will - it was an enlightening experience and I look forward to writing many more books in the future.

Visit my website at http://www.ideamerge.net/products to find out more about The Idea Journal - don't pass up this opportunity to get a book that may very well change your life.

Think about this - the idea or concept that can change your life is already within you - you have to find a way to navigate through all of the other stuff that you are occupied with to find it and take action on that idea - good luck.

later..

2005-12-09T05:58:00.000-08:00

Hey there - I am looking for people to share stories with me about having great ideas at some point in the past and for whatever reason deciding not to pursue the idea and ...

One day you looked up and you saw the very same idea that you had, making some one rich or making a difference in other people's lives -

How did you feel when you saw your idea just as you imagined it?

Did seeing your idea come to life make you feel sad at the missed opportunity or did you marvel at the fact that someone had the very same idea as you and decided to pursue it?

If you have a story like this I would like to hear about it and maybe even use it on my website for people to learn from - you can help someone else by sharing your story, because you can bet someone is experiencing the same situation right now - help me to help others with your experience. Email me at: tellmystory@ideamerge.net.

Thanks

2005-12-09T05:19:00.000-08:00

I attended a networking session yesterday in East Orlando - I am blown away at the number of people out there making things happen and hustling to succeed in their businesses.

I met a person who is operating a virtual office concept - great idea for small businesses. I also met a guy who is not only a website/3D Graphics/Network Specialists.... - he will even help you chop down trees in your yard while your hard drive is being cleaned - talk about maximizing your time - that is amazing.

The key element to any networking organization is not "what can you do for me" or the famous -WIIFM - "What's In It For Me" - instead it should be "What Can I do For You" or "How Can I Serve You."

Have you ever heard the saying - I don't know who said it, but it goes - fuel drives the economy, but Ideas drive the world.

What world changing ideas do you have to contribute....

Later..

2005-12-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

Have you every wondered where the really great ideas come from? I know I have, especially at those times when you need an idea. Sometimes you just want to go to an "idea bag", reach in and grab a great idea out.

That would be an awesome thing if we could do that. I mean, you need a million dollar idea - go to the idea bag and get one. You need ideas to improve your performance on the job - go to the idea bag and get one of those too.

I know it is not that simple but if you think about it - it actually is - that simple, because we all have in our possession the ultimate idea bag - it's called a BRAIN!

As a matter of fact, I need to reach into my bag and grab an idea for this briefing i have to give -- later....

2005-12-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

Well, this is my first post on my new Blog - Idea Pipeline. WOW!! What a wonderful idea. The founders of this company set out to do something else yet here they are providing a service that allows us to speak to the world- expressing our own originality and uniqueness - Thanks!!

I want to hear from people who have thought of great ideas in the past, only to see those ideas promote and capitalized on by someone else. I call this the Idea That Got Away. If you have any of those let me know - I would love to hear about it.

Anyway - that is it for now..