Project: How to Capture Your Ideas and Capitalize on Them

The brain is an organ with mysteries and untapped resources. But it’s also like a muscle. The more we use it, the more we exercise it, the stronger it becomes.

But no matter how much we expand the fortitude of our brain, if we exercise it, if we push it to its limits but never harvest from its bounty, why then put ourselves through the rigorous reps – whatever method we use to gain information – reading, traveling, seminars. We are absorbing; our brain is expanded but our mind is constricted with potential.

Your brain is big. Your ideas are too. The next time one pops in your mind let it pop on paper:

Write it down. Immediately. You always think you’ll remember it in an hour, in a day. You won’t. Even if you take notes on an app on your phone, don’t trust your battery. Try to carry around a pocket-sized notebook and keep one on your night stand, too. Not only is jotting down the idea cathartic, but equally so getting it down on a piece of tangible paper.

Give yourself a deadline. Once you express your big idea, break it down in bullet points or baby steps. Then give yourself a deadline to realistically accomplish the first task. The big idea is a beautiful picture but the more you face it the more you’ll be struck by analysis paralysis. Therefore, it’s vital you evaluate the project, your schedule and your capabilities. And then take in consideration this is a big idea – so you need to double dose your risk-taking factor.

Have an accountability partner. It’s okay if you don’t have a prototype, a slideshow presentation, a logo or a business plan put together. You can share as much or little as possible. Just have someone you trust to keep you on track.

Be open to detours. Whether you’re off schedule, flying off the handle because you can’t take one more failed attempt or people giving your idea the brush off, don’t give up on your idea. Just be open to taking your idea to another level. Reevaluate. Be open to suggestions while always being true to your idea.

Maybe reading this has given you an idea. Untapped what you thought others might not understand. And they won’t. Because it’s YOUR idea. So it’s your job to help them understand. To bring it to life. To give it a name, a personality.

-The Green Couch

Project: 6 Ways to Condition Your Clients

When you are in a creative field, you want to give your all to your clients. You want to say “Yes!” because you want to showcase your skills and market their services and products to the best of your ability. But there comes a time when they begin to bulldoze your kindness and take advantage of your willingness to serve.

It can be a risk to start saying “No.” To being upfront from the beginning to being transparent, to not negotiating. To not being a doormat when your clients walk into your studio even though they could be an ideal creative canvas.

There are more canvases out there and you have to protect both them and yourselves. Here’s a good guideline to abide by:

1.    If your hours are between 9 and 5, don’t answer before 9 or after 5.

2.    If you add surcharges, enforce those surcharges.

3.    If you say that is something your company does not offer, do not offer it.

4.    If you say it will be ready in two days, do not provide them with a rush service benefits.

5.    If they challenge your expertise, be assertive in your work integrity.

6.    If your client signed a contract, refer and uphold them to the contract.

-The Green Couch

Project: What Would Barbara Corcoran Say?

They all want her money – at least the little fish swimming in the tank with big Sharks do. Even if they would like to have their pick of Sharks, they need an any investor because their big idea turned into a budding business. However, it took off before they could keep up. So the aspiring entrepreneurs who have caught the eyes and bank accounts of the Sharks have a lot for which to be thankful. But it’s not just wealth that they need to bank. Because it’s not just what you do with money, it’s how you do it. Behind every Shark’s dollar, are days of hard work and mental acuity that built their empire.

Wouldn’t you like to bank a little of that wealth too?

Sharp, witty, wise and an established entrepreneur, Barbara isn’t just worth $80 million. She has much to say about life. As a mom, businesswoman, investor, television personality, speaker, investor, consultant, syndicated columnist and author she has learned the art of when to talk and when to listen. But most of all, she knows business and she means business.

And she wants to pass that wealth of knowledge on to us:

• In business, you're the Chief Salesman. Create a sense of demand, rather than waiting to have demand.

• Taking chances almost always makes for happy endings.

• There’s no better motivation in the world than someone that insults you.

• Don’t you dare underestimate the power of your own instinct.

• Finding opportunity is a matter of believing it’s there

• My best successes came on the heels of failures.

• The difference between successful people and others is how long they feel sorry for themselves.

• You can’t fake passion.

Have you found your passion? How are you pursuing it? When you need a little pep in your step, think: What would Barbara Corcoran Say?

-The Green Couch