Inspiration and Ideas

I once heard that small minds talk about people, average minds talk about things, and great minds talk about ideas. I catch myself thinking about this saying regularly and asking myself, am I talking about ideas enough? Further, am I giving myself enough quiet time to even come up with new ideas?

With the start of my new job I've gotten a new phone plan and DRASTICALLY cut down on my data usage. This means less email checking on the go. Fewer checks into social media. More time to just think. In the car, on the toilet, in the shower, in line at the store, sitting at the park, etc. We have 2 gigs of data between my hubby and me and, so far so good. I'm liking how this has forced me to use my time to think and brainstorm... and sing songs.

Some of my best ideas come while in the shower.  A few posts ago I explained how I typically use the shower as a time to check into my bank accounts and pay bills etc. I still feel that is a viable use of time but, I'm now avoiding using data annnnd I don't want to get my new iPhone wet. So, I have been trying to use that time for ideation. For example, I typically plan what I'm going to do with my primary singing time when I'm showering. It seems last minute, I know, but, church is at 11 so, it's not too bad. Often, good ideas come as a spark first thing in the morning as I lay in bed and check my schedule for the day. If that spark of an idea comes first thing, then the shower is the time to flesh out the idea and explore the details.

I also try to take notes in my phone when I get a new blog post idea or business idea. Often, business ideas come from running into a problem that I wish there was a solution for. Many times, I share my idea with Scott and explain how I've come up with this genius idea to solve a certain problem and Scott tries to sweetly (or not so sweetly) tell me that a solution already exists. Sometimes, though, I do come up with an original idea...or at least one that we think is original...and I'll write it down so that, if it's worth exploring, I don't forget it.

I wonder how many people get a good idea and then, in an effort to check weather or not that product or service exists, they search Google. I then wonder how many people have access to Google searches of original content and can then jump on all of the most worth while ideas that others have had....

These are the things I've found myself thinking as of late.

Here's my latest, and greatest, idea. A Valet Parking App. It would look something like this: let's say I'm hanging out downtown with Scott and we're having a casual dinner. Someone nearby is heading to a performance of some kind and they're short on time SCRAMBLING to get parking so that they can run to the venue and be there in time. I get an alert on my app that someone needs me to snag their car and park it for them. I'm familiar with downtown, I have time on my hands, and I want to earn a few extra bucks. Not only that, I do someone a favor and ensure that they get to the show on time. They are able to park right in front of the venue where I'm waiting to pick up their vehicle. I have not fleshed out the details yet. I can see a couple of immediate concerns, the biggest of which is having a stranger drive someone else's car and trusting them. Car insurance could also be an issue. Then there is the question of what to do with the keys. Are there restrictions on how far away the car can be? Is it a true valet service where I then go back and deliver the vehicle to the couple seeing the show? I don't know. All I know is that I was in Park City on Saturday having a heck of a time finding parking and I thought....how sweet would it be if someone could just take this thing and park it for me?!

Then I search the app store...THIS EXISTS!!! This makes me super bummed but also, super happy. Down side: I don't get to make money off of this idea. Up side: my problem is solved!

Where do you come up with your best ideas?