Comments on: If It’s a Good Idea… Don’t Do It

By: Fernando

Fernando — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:55:06 +0000

Inspiring. I’m one of those serial “passionate about one thing” Form architecture to acting, to traveling, to photography, to playing the piano, to drive a motorcycle… But I will say this: that I know I need to master one of these things, but that starting to master something you are not 100% in love with, is (in my own world) a waste of time. So I keep exploring. My new thing is finding a volunteering program in Africa and see if social change and solving global issues will round up all my creative interests!

By: Put Things Off and Do Nothing to Get More Done

Put Things Off and Do Nothing to Get More Done — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:13:44 +0000

[...] I know that these ideas may seem a bit counterintuitive, but they’ve worked over and over for me. In fact, I would say much of my success is due to following them tirelessly. That and painstakingly killing my good ideas. [...]

By: Arne

Arne — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:23:40 +0000

When I read articels on your blog I see a young man searching, looking for his place in the world, not finding it yet.
You are young, undereducated, with a low amount of experiences. You´re at the beginning of a long journey.
You got the right mind to help people and to grow by yourself. And you are motivated to do so. That´s a good basis.
But I can´t believe that you are writing about things you haven´t fully understand yet. You even haven´t understand yourself. But I know writing about something makes one think about it, that helps to understand. And blogging lives from the comments. They might give you a lot of different perspektives of what you are writing about.

I think it might be better when you first find out what your life is meant to be, find your purpose. Then you won´t need to search anymore. And the distractions aren´t what they are before. Cause you KNOW what you want and you now just have to chose which medium you want to use to live your purpose and to express yourself in it.

I´m just mirroring what I see, what comes to me thru your words, the way you are expressing yourself.
It´s my profession and my way to help people grow.
I´m a psychologist and a trainer in argentine-tango. I was a software-engineer before.
Now I make people move and grow, mentaly and physicaly.

Start with the begining.
Keep on keeping on.
Surf on the flow.
Live your purpose.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:19:57 +0000

Thank you for sharing your inspiration, thoughts and advice. I consider myself a 1%er, and have always found it difficult to connect with like minded, positive people who want to make life happen. Most people around me are just “sheep” following the crowd because its too hard to be the black “sheep”. Money can be the root of all evil, if you let it. I found that giving authentically without expectations allowed me to reinvent myself, and opened up more avenues of creativity. Best wishes to everyone who reads this blog!

By: Anycool C9000

Anycool C9000 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:08:25 +0000

Make your love become your job?This seems like the most backward thing, right? I mean, in the beginning we complain that we don’t have enough time to do what we really care about, but when we’re presented the opportunity to make money from it, it becomes a turnoff.

By: Skannie

Skannie — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:08:58 +0000

Hi Jonathan

You sound like you have a Scanner personality, which is Barbara Sher’s name for people with multiple interests. Look at my new Scanner Tribe website and see if it rings any bells. Some of us are serial scanners who move from one interest to another, while others tend to recycle the same bunch of interests. Maybe you are the type called a serial master. But I think most of us are really mixtures of types.

Refuse to Choose is Barbara’s main book about Scanners. In it she explains how to design a life to suit your way of thinking. She also talks a lot in all her books about resistance to doing what you love.

Margaret Lobenstine’s book, The Renaissance Soul, is about the same kind of people. And I think polymaths and people with too many aptitudes could be the same too.

You can follow Barbara on twitter @BarbaraSher and join in her Twitter idea parties every Thursday.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:39:53 +0000

Reunite – that’s the one i need to work on. I changed jobs for more pay, but lost contact with others in my field. Now I feel adrift…

Fortunately for me, I’m working on creating a new direction for my life that will reunite me with others that think the same way I do.

Thanks for the reminder.

-Eric

By: SEO 'n' Chips

SEO 'n' Chips — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:26:03 +0000

I really enjoyed this one, Jonathan (came to your site after reading several of your posts on zenhabits).

Theres a lot of truth in what you say – doing something purely for the sake of it being a good idea – well – it’s something I run into a lot as an entrepreneur, and heck – sometimes its better to give an idea away to someone who has the drive, skills and opportunities to realise it.

Keeping it for yourself because of ego – because you can’t bear to be parted from it (or various other self centered reasons), doesn’t mean you’re the one to make it work. You might be – but you might not be!

By: So I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and…

So I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and… — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:16:47 +0000

[...] [From If It’s a Good Idea… Don’t Do It | Illuminated Mind] [...]

By: How to Create a Highly Viral Blog

How to Create a Highly Viral Blog — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:31:54 +0000

[...] I can’t find something worth writing about, I don’t write. If it’s just a “good idea,” I don’t write about [...]