The Big Idea Canvas
This was such an eye-opening exercise. Being the overachiever I am, I was secretly hoping for a great score at the end and of course was totally bummed when I didn't get it. However, that's probably the best thing that could have happened to me as I feeling quite comfortable with my idea and liking it really well. After the Big Idea Canvas blew up in my face, I looked back at my idea and felt more like, "Who let YOU in here? Shoo! Shoo!"
The biggest takeaway from the exercise was that my idea wasn't really innovative at all. The problem I had identified is that there seems to be a hole in the school system where career exploration should be. This hole is supposed to be filled by school counselors, most of whom have entirely too much on their plates already. So, I decided it would be wise to fill the said hole with exactly the same thing: a substitute for a school counselor. Thus, my solution was exactly the opposite of innovative.
Since then I've brainstormed new ideas, all of which are more innovative and exciting than the original and my thinking about solutions has become much more flexible. I'd say those are both steps in the right (i.e. less wrong) direction.
The Plan
Although I'm amassing and perusing a list of related literature, I'm still in the middle of the "get out of the building phase". I plan to do that by 1) bribing some of the youth in our ward to come and chat with me and Brandon, and 2) contacting acquaintances about my idea including a school counselor and a social worker who works closely with school counselors.
Thus, my idea right now feels like it's in cocoon phase; there's a makeshift structure surrounding it but inside it's just mush for the moment. I'm excited to see it begin to take shape!
This was such an eye-opening exercise. Being the overachiever I am, I was secretly hoping for a great score at the end and of course was totally bummed when I didn't get it. However, that's probably the best thing that could have happened to me as I feeling quite comfortable with my idea and liking it really well. After the Big Idea Canvas blew up in my face, I looked back at my idea and felt more like, "Who let YOU in here? Shoo! Shoo!"
The biggest takeaway from the exercise was that my idea wasn't really innovative at all. The problem I had identified is that there seems to be a hole in the school system where career exploration should be. This hole is supposed to be filled by school counselors, most of whom have entirely too much on their plates already. So, I decided it would be wise to fill the said hole with exactly the same thing: a substitute for a school counselor. Thus, my solution was exactly the opposite of innovative.
Since then I've brainstormed new ideas, all of which are more innovative and exciting than the original and my thinking about solutions has become much more flexible. I'd say those are both steps in the right (i.e. less wrong) direction.
The Plan
Although I'm amassing and perusing a list of related literature, I'm still in the middle of the "get out of the building phase". I plan to do that by 1) bribing some of the youth in our ward to come and chat with me and Brandon, and 2) contacting acquaintances about my idea including a school counselor and a social worker who works closely with school counselors.
Thus, my idea right now feels like it's in cocoon phase; there's a makeshift structure surrounding it but inside it's just mush for the moment. I'm excited to see it begin to take shape!
Your idea doesn't have to be particularly innovative - maybe your execution of a well-known idea can be far better than anyone else's...
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