Most big ideas begin with a notion. A simple ‘what-if’. What happens next determines whether their embryonic state matures or gets buried under another to-do list.

… What if you could take that embryonic notion and place it an environment that guarantees its tiny beating heart enough oxygen for it to expand and grow?

These 7 proven steps show you how:

An article about getting out of compliance-thinking and into growth-mastery — the mindset of self-leadership. Inspired by Seth Godin.

Compliance is a costly mistake bred into education systems. It’s where masses of young people first learn group-think, permission-seeking and how to fit-in.

Those who don’t follow the rules are treated harshly, ostracized from the group or ‘managed’ through a process of fear designed to ignite the reptilian brain and destroy individuality.

1. Creative People Put Themselves In Boxes

Only 25% of people believe they’re living up to their potential to be creative.

This means that 75% of creatives aren’t. And most likely are dumbing-down insights, creative intelligence and the chance to be valued more highly — both financially and professionally.

Animals Know What We’ve Forgotten

• How to focus, then let go of disappointment fast
• How to release muscle tension when stress passes
• How to be in the present moment.

Reaching goals can bring out our best and worst. The thrill of leaning into a goal needs weighing against the angst of making slow progress. It can be a stressful business.

And while 75–90% of all visits to doctors are stress related (estimation), it’s time to take onboard these 7 ideas:

Why Learn?

“You are learning how to live. Because you want to be freer, fear less, and achieve a state of peace.” — Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic.

That’s what learning is. Opening a door, one leading from an ordinary world to a journey unknown. They’re rarely smooth. I’ve taken them before. It will challenge me. Sometimes drag me through fire. At other times I’ll feel as if drowning.

And every step of the way will open another opportunity. Another view. Yet one closed, if I hadn’t turned the handle.

Without seeking, nothing is found.

If Your Life Sucked Yesterday; It Will Again Today Unless …

“Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own …” — Epictetus.

No one ethically knows the outcome of a game. We cannot make someone love us. We cannot dictate the weather.

Being top of the class used to be a predictor of success. Along with your IQ — a they offered a passport to … anything you wanted.

That was then.

These days your school record and IQ score are as good a predictor of success as your hair colour is.

“Many people are living in an emotional jail without realizing it.” — Virginia Satir

Virginia Satir (1916–88) was a family therapist with an eye for seeing what those she worked with couldn’t.

In her work with families, Satir categorised 5 types of behaviour she noticed people defaulting to. These behavioural defaults emerged in times of discomfort — around arguments or moments of emotional charge.

In this article, we’re looking at one category: the placater. You may see yourself here. Or not.

“I believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no light without shadow; or rather, no shadow unless there is also light.” 
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

When starting my first garden, I couldn’t get the old spade to make a dent in the ground.

Each jab into the hard-core earth jarred my shoulder. No yielding.

I found the spade rusting under a pile of ‘one-day-useful’ junk in the back shed. Someone’s warrior garden tool.

A few more sharp jabs, angling the spade the way I saw my father do, and a splinter of soil cracked.

I looked at the spade. And it at me.

One of us wasn’t cut out for this job.

So you’ve got a problem. Another one. It’s landed on your lap and you have to solve it. Fast. It may be with your partner. Your colleague. Your boss. Or with getting more sales.

Fact is that it’s yours. And your back’s against the wall.

What’s the best solution?

Answer: Ask the right questions.

“I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish.” Mother Teresa

Researchers say that children smile at least 400 times a day.

Adults? Perhaps 20 … if lucky.

This may be an urban myth, but even if the numbers are out … what does it mean for those who smile big, broad and bountiful smiles and those who think a grimace gets them by?

I carried a backpack for a long time. Not a literal one. More a ‘case history’ of life’s wrongs caused by choosing partners I could have, should have and (would have) avoided like the plague if only I’d watched and learned from the humble snail.

When I first began writing I listened to the advice: “If you want to be a writer, write”.

My dream was to write the type of stories that turned children, like my then 9-year-old son into devout readers. Stories filled with heros that would move the needle from insecure to courageous.

So I wrote.

Drivel.

This is why creativity starts with curiosity.

It stretches with raw data into new patterns.

Sees random chunks of meaning in mess.

And builds eye-popping solutions with the right approach.

But … If you don’t believe you’re creative … it’s time to flip this mindset.

As Henry Ford said: “If you think you can, or think you can’t — you’re right”.

This is why so many fail ...

“Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.” 
― Dorothea Brande

Feeling frustrated with your results?

Can’t see yourself getting what you want no matter how much you stretch yourself? Keep reading. You’re not alone.

You have a problem. And it’s likely you’re not aware of it.

Here it is: Marketers’ tactics are controlling your life.

And up to this point, you’ve had little come-back. Now you do.

A nation’s culture resides in the heart and in the soul of its people. Mahatma Gandhi

We live in a society where others’ standards set social and cultural ‘norms’ and expectations.

Size of your home.

Shape of your car.

Balance of your bank account.

Career ladders and pay packets.

With 9–5 jobs the accepted route to strive for these life ‘norms’.