Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 47 seconds.

TODAY’S IDEA: Idea incomes

— From: Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” said Jim Rohn, personal development guru. This idea reflects in all we do, as author Austin Kleon points out in Steal Like an Artist: “if you take the incomes of five of your closest friends and average them, the resulting number will be pretty close to your own income.”

Further, Kleon points out: “I think the same is true of our idea incomes. You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.” And he recalls how it drove him crazy when his mom used to tell him “Garbage in, garbage out.” Fortunately, that’s a thing of the past and now he understands and appreciates what she meant.

If you are reading this blog, it means that you are a professional and a lifelong learner. As one myself, I wholeheartedly agree with Kleon when he says, “Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.” The more you do this, the more your idea incomes will rise.

Collect your ideas selectively, and share them with the people who surround you so that their idea incomes can go up as well. Remember the quote by President John F. Kennedy, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Let your ideas be the rising tide.

ACTION

TODAY: Make a list of the 5 ideas you most like and share it with a loved one or a colleague. Ask them to do the same with you.

FUTURE: Ponder the ideas you have and the new ones you come across and create a list. Share it. Repeat as often as you’d like. Make it a habit of expanding your mind and thus raising your idea income with at least one new idea every day… By the way, I know of a blog that can help you with that!

Let’s lift the boats in your circles today: please share today’s idea with someone! You can do so via email, Facebook or Twitter!