This morning I had breakfast with Pastor Jimmy, our site pastor for our Chicago site. We spent some time sharing our hearts with one another and bouncing off ideas. It was an encouraging time.
Harvey Firestone, the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company said, “Capital isn’t so important in business. Experience isn’t so important. You can get both of these. What is important is ideas. If you have ideas, you have the main asset you need, and there isn’t any limit to what you can do with your business and your life. They are any man’s greatest asset – idea.”
I cannot agree with the above quote more. For some reason, when I am in an environment where ideas are being shared and processed, it is a very energizing time for me. Whenever I share some of my crazy ideas and thoughts, it is helpful to have people give feedback along the way. Also, when I hear ideas from other people, I love giving counter perspectives.
I guess this is where the 3 C’s of “idea processing” come in – creativity, collaboration and contribution. John Maxwell said, “[Shared thinking] is faster than solo thinking, is more innovative, and has greater value. Most important, I believe, is the fact that great thinking comes when good thoughts are shared in a collaborative environment where people contribute to them, shape them, and take them to the next level.”
I am thankful for the key people I am surrounded by on a daily basis. We don’t always see eye-to-eye but there is a healthy respect for one another and we value each other’s input. Most of all, I am thankful for their willingness to put up with some of the crazy and foolish ideas that are a work-in-progress.
Alfred North Whitehead said it well – “Almost all really new ideas have a certain aspect of foolishness when they are first produced.”
But after some collaboration and contribution from everyone, the ideas become the fuel that will transform the world.
We are on the verge of something good… details will soon follow.