“You don’t create the meaning of your life, you discover it.”

Life is a series of hits and misses. The number of hits increases proportionally to the number of chances you are willing to take. What determines your success is not just the hits but also what you learn from the misses. It is similar to kissing several frogs before you finally find your prince. And that’s how innovations are done. It requires a strong foundation of your core values, a vision, the courage to accept failures, learning from them, and building upon them to a newer tomorrow. 

Let’s explore the experience of internalizing invention and innovation. 

1. Have a vision 

Observe what you are most passionate about, what makes your heartbeat, what makes your soul charged up, what you want to spend your time on. A vision is the purpose of your life, something you devote your life to; something that defines everything you do. Having a vision helps your mind escape from the aimless wandering and motivates you to focus on the future you are looking forward to. Be vulnerable and ask yourselves questions.

“What would I do if I am sure I will succeed…”

“What would I do if I am certain it is the right choice…”

Build your vision board. Be imaginative! Be courageous! Create your ideal life as if you have everything you need and then commit every waking moment to it. 

2. Establish a discipline 

Transforming your ideas into success is nothing but simple acts of discipline practiced every day. It’s the refining fire that transforms your talent into ability. Create your own fertile space. Dedicate a specific time and place to work towards your ideas. Do not be a victim of the multitasking epidemic. You may be tempted to excuse yourself by saying ‘you had a late night’. But remember it is about choosing between what you want now and what you want most.  

3. Breakaway from the fear of failures

Failure is the annoying cousin that your parents always compare you with. You bake a perfectly edible cheesecake only after you have burnt many. The important fact is the awareness & the learning that comes with every failure. But that doesn’t mean you excuse every failure as a stepping stone to success. Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

4. Accept your limitations 

Be stubborn when it comes to transforming your visions into reality, but be flexible enough to open up to other ideas. You can either spend days removing a roadblock or find an alternate way to your destination. It is wise to accept your limitations, but don’t discount yourself. Knowing when to take a hard stop or when to change the ways to realize your vision, transforms your ideas from a failure to success.

5. Keep paddling

We are what we repeatedly do. Eventually, excellence becomes a habit and not an act. Do not be impatient with the learning curves. Every new idea springs from several experiences. You need to keep broadening it to fit the visions of your life. Give yourself and your vision space and time to bloom. 

The ideas that take form in your mind, however insane they are, are a sign from the universe that if they exist in your mind they can exist in the physical world too. 

Invent. Experiment. Innovate!