Idea of the Day - A new idea each day. Some Don't Suck!

Our Latest Posts About: Inspiration

Mediation and Deep Breathing

Wednesday, August 9, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why is deep breathing so important to meditation?

One of the most interesting features of the Apple Watch is the Breathing App, which prompts you several times a day to remind you to "Breathe". Can you imagine that? A technology company taking the time and effort to make "Breathing" a central option in a major product line. Why would they do that?

When Apple introduced the Apple Watch, they didn't focus much on it's ability to tell time, or even make phone calls. They focused on its health benefits, and as far as Apple (and many doctors) are concerned, taking a few minutes each day to breathe is an important part of being healthy.

Controlled breathing has countless health benefits because it's the shortest path to controlling your mind, which, in turn, controls the rest... [More]

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Lessons From The Marshmallow Test

Wednesday, July 26, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why teaching your children patience is more important than any other skill.

In the 1960s, a Psychologist named Walter Mischel created a test to see how children practice self control. The premise was pretty simple. He took a group of children and and placed them alone in a room with a single marshmallow and instructions that they could eat the marshmallow any time they wanted, but if they were waited 15 minutes, they could eat two. Then hit turned on the cameras and recorded their reactions.

The study was designed to see the kinds of techniques children would use to resist their desire to eat the marshmallow. Although they knew they would get a second marshmallow if they waited the entire 15 minutes, many of the children couldn't resist and ate the marshmallow before the t... [More]

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Don't Let Your Dreams... Remain Dreams

Tuesday, July 25, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Dreams are great, but only if you make them a reality.

Dreaming is part of what makes us all human. Some of us dream of love, fame, and fortune, while others simply want to see the world. Whatever your dreams are, the most important thing you can do with your dreams is find a way to make them come true.

Dreaming is a wonderful thing, but if you don't do anything about turning them into a reality, they will forever remain nothing more, than a dream, and that's a shame. You can spend a lifetime dreaming but without getting out of your comfort zone, your dreams will change from fantasies of what you hope to do one day, to something you will regret missing out on.

Don't let your dreams remain dreams. If you want something, find a way to make it happen, but you've got to mak... [More]

Continue...Don't Let Your Dreams... Remain Dreams...

Uncertainty is GREAT for Ideas

Wednesday, June 21, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Blog post to follow...

We Need More Phony People

Saturday, June 17, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

They say smiles are contagious, so are frowns.

Being yourself is overrated. The trouble is, a lot of people are are miserable pricks, so I posted a video a while back where I said anyone who's a miserable prick should consider being somebody else. There's a little more behind that message, so I thought I'd try to expand on it a bit.

The main point is that nobody likes a miserable prick, so I'd rather see a miserable prick being phony by acting nice, than to see a miserable prick who's acting like a miserable prick. Doesn't that make sense?

The second point is that smiles are just as contagious as frowns. So if more people put on a smile (even if it's a fake one), it improves the mood of everyone around them. So as more people smile, rather than frown, they're actually h... [More]

Continue...We Need More Phony People...

Be Yourself! Unless...

Monday, May 29, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why the fuss over being yourself?

Ever since you were a kid, you've been told that the most important thing in life is to always be yourself? While that sound great on paper. I wish some people would be somebody else.

In other words, if you're a great person, be yourself at all costs, but if you're a real jerk... I'd rather you be somebody else, preferably somebody nicer.

Ideas Start With... Problems!

Thursday, May 4, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

How do I create a new idea each day?

People often ask me how I manage to come up with a new idea each day for my blog and YouTube Channel. The simple truth is, I don't start off by thinking of ideas... I start by looking for problems.

That's because it's pretty easy finding problems. In fact, I think it's safe to assume we all face at least a few new problems each day, so I start by writing down the problems, then thinking of solutions to those problems and before you know it... ideas are born!

What if... You Knew You Couldn't Fail?

Sunday, November 20, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Is Fear Holding You Back?

One of the biggest fears in life is the fear of failure. It keeps us from doing the things we've always wanted to do because we fear the consequences of failure. We stick to our comfort zone and play if safe, but in the back of our mind we wish we had the courage to step out of that comfort zone and really enjoy our deepest fantasies.

What if you knew you COULDN'T Fail? Would that help you do the things that you're afraid of?

The truth is, if you really think about the things you fear most, you may find that the chances of failure aren't as bad as you think. In fact, you even discover that for some things, failure isn't all that bad either.

What If EVERY Job Paid the Same? Idea of the Day #246

Sunday, November 13, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

How much do you love your job?

Here's something to think about. Imagine a world where every job had the exact same salary. We do our jobs and at the end of the week, everyone's paycheck is the same. Doctors, lawyers, street cleaners and sewer cleaners earn the same income.

If this were the case... Would YOU still be doing the same job?

If you answered no, it probably means you gave up one what you REALLY wanted to do, just because it didn't pay as much as you wanted.

It's not an easy question, because somewhere between our youth, when we didn't think about money, and our adult life, most of us abandoned those ideas and followed an entirely different path.

There is no right or wrong answer. Everyone has to make a living, so choosing a profession based on inc... [More]

Continue...What If EVERY Job Paid the Same? Idea of the Day #246...

Take The Recent Calls Challenge!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Can you pass the Recent Calls Challenge? It might change your life.

The Recent Calls challenge is super easy. If your parents are still alive, I want you to take out your cell phone and go to the "Recent Calls" section and see how far you have to scroll to see the last time you called them.

Were they even in the list? Did you have to scroll? If so, how far did you have to scroll? When my father was alive, I rarely had to scroll at all, because he was usually in the top 10. That's how it should be. Every now and then I would notice he wasn't near the top of the list and it reminded me that it was time to give him a call.

So, if your parents weren't near the top of the list, why not give them a call? I'm sure they'll be happy to hear from you.

The Recent Calls Cha

... [More]

Continue...Take The Recent Calls Challenge!...

Stop Complaining... Bring Your Own Tools To Work!

Monday, August 29, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

A lot of people complain that they can't get their work done because their office doesn't give them the right supplies.

One of the biggest complaints people have with their place of work is that their company has lousy tools, office supplies, furniture, and other equipment, making it hard to effectively do their job.

Instead of complaining about the tools, why not bring your own tools and supplies? Don't worry about getting reimbursed. Just buy what you need and get your job done. You'll not only get more work done, but you'll do a better job and that could lead to raises, and better opportunities down the road.

So, instead of complaining that your back hurts because they gave you a bad chair, or desk, buy your own. Instead of saying you're keyboard sticks or hurts your... [More]

Continue...Stop Complaining... Bring Your Own Tools To Work!...

The REAL Purpose of Education

Saturday, July 30, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

The purpose of teaching is to make teaching unnecessary.

When you think about it, the most important part of your education took place in three basic stages. Your first stage was to learn the fundamental skills like reading, writing and arithmetic. Most of that you mastered in elementary school.

With those building blocks in place, you soon moved on to more advanced studies in a variety of subjects like history and science, and finally in your third stage, you went deeper into those subjects and started to learn specific skills that you may use in your future career.

However, there is a fourth, and more important stage. It's called "Life". It's a much longer phase, but for some people, it's often neglected. In this critical stage you are faced with NEW questions every... [More]

Continue...The REAL Purpose of Education...

How Restrictions Unleash Creativity

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

The best way to unleash creativity is to set as many restrictions as possible.

If I were to ask you to invent a new product, what would you create? How long would it take you? Could you even do it at all? Believe it or not, if I added a bunch of restrictions, chances are you not only could do it, but you'd do it in record time. That's because restrictions have the power to not only speed up the process, but deliver better results.

Why I LOVE Bad Ideas Too!

Monday, July 25, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Some of the best ideas started out as a bad idea.

I've had a computer since the 70s. Back then, computers weren't very useful. In fact, you could almost argue that they were just plain worthless. There was no such thing as the Web, hard drives, word processing programs, or spreadsheets. In fact, the first IBM PC came standard with just a tape recorder, not even a floppy disk. You turned them on, and had to write programs in BASIC.

If the first generation of home computers were that bad, why did they sell them? Because you have to start somewhere, even if the first generation of it was useless.

The bottom line is that a lot of people hesitate to create something new because they lack a "Great Idea", but the truth is they are better off with a "Bad Idea", than no idea.... [More]

Continue...Why I LOVE Bad Ideas Too!...

Dream Big In 2016

Friday, January 1, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I like dreams of the future better than the history of the past. - Thomas Jefferson

As the year comes to an end, we hear a lot about looking back at the past year. While reminding ourselves of good and bad events of the past year can be entertaining, I'd rather look ahead, and dream of the great things to come.

The New Year isn't about looking back. It's about deciding what lies ahead. As you enter the New Year, think about all the things you want to do, and find a way to do it.

When you dream big, big things happen. Don't worry about how. That's not important. You'll have the rest of the life to work that out.

Once you have a clear and definite purpose, pathways that lead you to achieve your goals will suddenly appear to you. Whether you believe that this is... [More]

Continue...Dream Big In 2016...

Think Like a Jedi

Friday, December 18, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Awaken the Force Inside You.

I was 12 years old when the original Star Wars was released in 1977. To say I was an instant fan is an understatement. I was obsessed with it.

Like many people who grew up in that era, the fascination with Star Wars went way beyond simply enjoying the action scenes or the special effects. What attracted me most was the idea of being a "Jedi".

To me, there were 5 kinds of people in the movie:

1. Good Guys.

2. Bad Guys.

3. Really Good Guys.

4. Really Bad Guys.

5. Scoundrels.

The majority of the characters were Good Guys, Bad Guys, and Scoundrels. Most of the Good Guys were Rebels, and most of the bad guys were Stormtroopers, so it was easy to tell them apart.

What made the movie special was that there were only a few "

... [More]

Continue...Think Like a Jedi...

Don't Shop On Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 26, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do I really need to write about this?

One of the great things about Thanksgiving Day is that it was always one of the few days of the year where most people had the day off specifically to spend time with their families and give thanks. It's pretty amazing when you think of it, a day set aside to simply pause... and reflect.

Somewhere along the way things changed. I think the trend started in the 90s, when the media started to draw attention to the fact that retailers considered the next day to be a turning point in their sales, the day they started to turn a profit and hence "Black Friday" was born.

Year after year, the hype over "Black Friday" grew in the media, as stories of early morning shoppers stampeding into stores at 6am to get their hands on deep discounted "Doo... [More]

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Bill Gates: Turn Poop Into Money, Water, and Energy

Tuesday, November 24, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Developing countries need money, better sanitation, water and energy. Bill Gates shows us how to fix them all with one easy solution.

When Bill Gates left Microsoft, he had one simple goal. He wanted to change the world. Judging by this video, he's of to a great start.

Since founding the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, The Foundation has tackled on a wide range of world problems. This video shows off one of the most interesting innovations, a system that basically turns poop into water and energy, through a device called the "Janicki Omniprocessor".

For developing countries, getting rid of waste, while generating money, clean water and energy is not just a slick idea, it solves several fundamental problems that are unique to developing countries that lack c... [More]

Continue...Bill Gates: Turn Poop Into Money, Water, and Energy...

Why Not Take a Chance on Faith?

Thursday, November 5, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I recently saw this video of Jim Carrey doing the Commencement Address at the 2014 MUM Graduation, and it struck a chord, so I thought I'd share it here today.

It's an inspirational speech, and it's been seen nearly 10 million times on YouTube.

My favorite quote is around the 23 minute mark:

"Why not take a chance on faith?
Not religion but faith.
Not hope but faith.

I don't believe in hope.
Hope is a beggar.

Hope walks through the fire.
Faith leaps over it."

To be honest, I didn't tune into the speech expecting words of wisdom. He's a comedian. I tuned in to hear a few laughs and I ended up re-playng parts of it because it was so well said.

The thing that resonated most was the concept that Faith and Hope are not interchangeable. There's a huge difference be... [More]

Continue...Why Not Take a Chance on Faith?...

Post Game Handshakes

Wednesday, November 4, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Whatever happened to sportsmanship?

I played Little League Baseball when I was young. I wasn't good at the game, but I learned something more important than baseball. I learned about Sportsmanship.

In Little League, after each game ends, both teams line up to shake hands. It's a great tradition, yet you seldom see this kind of sportsmanship in professional sports, and that's a shame. That one little gesture can bring out the best in both teams, assuming the handshake is genuine.

If boxers can spend 10 rounds beating each other senseless, and not only shake hands... but give each other a big hug when it's over, why can't baseball players shake hands?

It doesn't matter if it's a regular game, or a championship. Shaking hands after the game is a great way to let th... [More]

Continue...Post Game Handshakes...

Gone Shopping?... Get Rid of Something!

Sunday, September 20, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Out with the old...

Let's say, hypothetically, you go to the mall, and buy 3 shirts, 3 pants, and 3 pairs of shoes. What do you do when you get home? If you're like most people you'll simply go into your bedroom and put them all away. Simple enough. But what if you did this every weekend? Sooner or later, your closets and dressers will be a big mess.

Here's a better idea.

If you buy 3 shirts, 3 pants, and 3 pairs of shoes... get rid of 3 shirts, 3 pants, and 3 pairs of shoes.

I have to admit it, this is one of those "Do as I say... not as I do" ideas because I've been struggling with this one for a while. I have a hard time getting rid of things, but I have deep respect for people with the discipline to do it.

I can't tell you how often I've struggled with... [More]

Continue...Gone Shopping?... Get Rid of Something!...

Fight Losing Battles. The Real Meaning of Courage.

Sunday, July 19, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

What do you do when you face a fight you know you can't win?

For many people, backing down is the only option. After all, nobody likes to lose, so why bother fighting a losing battle?

I've fought more losing battles in my lifetime than I can count. Most of the time, I lose.

The next time I face the same challenge, I'm wiser, and stronger, so I fight again. Most of the time, I lose.

Quote:
I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know that you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.

- Atticus Finch
From To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Facing a challenge y... [More]

Continue...Fight Losing Battles. The Real Meaning of Courage....

The Best Resumes Are NOT About YOU.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Does your resume show that you are a team player?

The biggest mistake people make on their resume is spending too much time talking about themself, while neglecting their team experiences.

I get a kick out of some of the resumes I've read over the years. Some of them make you think the applicant is some kind of superhero that did all the work in their previous job on their own.

Don't they realize that employers want team players, not Lone Wolves? The most important thing on your resume is proof that you fit into a team, their team. Employers need Servant Leaders who roll up their sleeves and work together with a team.

Obviously, it's your resume, so it's only natural to include details about your education and experience, but unless you're looking for a job in a bubbl... [More]

Continue...The Best Resumes Are NOT About YOU....

Do Something. Anything. Now.

Friday, June 26, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

What are you waiting for?

Although I'm one of the biggest procrastinators that has ever walked the planet, I know the only way you can break that habit is to regularly do things that you've been putting off. It doesn't have to be something particularly complicated, time consuming, or even important. It just has to be something you've put off. The confidence you'll get from doing that one thing will snowball into bigger and more important things until "Getting Things Done" becomes your middle name.

The key thing here is that you commit to doing something you've been putting off every single day. You can't skip a day, especially on those days when you are too busy or too tired to get things done. That's when your commitment to getting things done truly blossoms.

Here's a... [More]

Continue...Do Something. Anything. Now....

Behind Every Problem There Is Opportunity

Thursday, June 25, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

The most successful ideas are the direct result of somebody who decided to fix a problem.

When it comes to problems, there are two groups of people, those who complain about them, and those who fix them. Both groups see the problem, but only the second group sees the opportunity that comes from fixing it.

The world is full of countless problems, so there are countless opportunities to achieve success by fixing them.

Over 100 years ago, baseball was played without gloves. One day a player put on a glove, making it easier and more comfortable to catch the ball. Although many people laughed at him, another player, Albert Spalding took the idea of a baseball glove seriously and he designed a glove specifically for baseball players. Spalding's company is still a major prod... [More]

Continue...Behind Every Problem There Is Opportunity...

Be Closed Minded And Set Limits. The Secret of Unlimited Ideas.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Having trouble finding new ideas? Try setting limits.

As strange as it sounds, one of the best ways to come up with breakthroughs is to limit your options as much as possible, because some of the best ideas come from closed minded thinking, not from thinking out of the box.

Your brain can only process so many things at one time, so by setting limits, you actually make it easier to make decisions, which not only leads to more ideas, but better ideas.

If I asked you to invent something, how long would it take you to come up with an idea? That's a pretty open ended question, so there's no way to know exactly how long it would take, or how good your invention would be.

However, let's say I asked you to invent something by 3pm, would that make it easier? Believe it or no... [More]

Continue...Be Closed Minded And Set Limits. The Secret of Unlimited Ideas....

Is a Glass Ever Half Empty?

Monday, June 22, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do you remember the first time you heard that question??

Odds are, the person asking it was hoping your answer would reveal whether you were an optimist or a pessimist. I'm not a psychologist, but I can assure you that your answer has nothing to do with your level of optimism.

By now, the question is a bit cliche, so it's hard to get a truly honest answer. But if you ask a child, you may be surprised to see how the answers can vary, based on the context and how you phrase the question.

Let's say you started with an 8 ounce glass of water. Of you poured it into an 8 ounce glass. Everyone would agree it's full.

If somebody saw you take the same 8 ounces of water and pour it into a 16 ounce glass. Most would say it's now half full. However, if you started with a 16... [More]

Continue...Is a Glass Ever Half Empty?...

When Bad Ideas Are... Good.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I love BAD Ideas!

Don't get me wrong. I love good ideas too, but very few of them would exist if it wasn't for the countless bad ideas that inspired them.

To me, a bad idea is like finding a diamond in the rough. There's something valuable inside. You've just got to chip away the crud on the outside before you can let it shine.

Most of us remember Apple's greatest ideas, but most of those ideas are a direct result of Apple's commitment to research and development. Almost every successful product was the direct result of a bad idea that they improved. Thankfully for Apple, some of those bad products were first introduced by other companies, but quite a few were from home-grown failures.

Some of those bad ideas never make it outside the labs, but once in a while, they... [More]

Continue...When Bad Ideas Are... Good....

Memorial Day - Remember Those Who Paid For Your Freedom

Monday, May 25, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's sad, but some people think of Memorial Day as just an excuse for a Bar-B-Que.

There are 2 holidays celebrated in the US that were specifically created to celebrate those who have served in the military, Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, yet there are a lot of people who don't understand the differences.

Veteran's Day was set aside to honor those who have served in the military. Veteran's Day gives us a chance to shake the hand of a Vet and say "Thank you for your service!". These brave people deserve more thanks and praise than they ever receive, because people are distracted by pointless sales in shopping malls and car dealerships.

Memorial Day is often confused with Veteran's Day, but it's entirely different. Unlike Veteran's Day, which honors everyone who has serve... [More]

Continue...Memorial Day - Remember Those Who Paid For Your Freedom...

Your Next Idea is 10 Minutes Away... Guaranteed.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Some people wonder how I can come up with an idea every day. Here's how: I try.

It may sound funny, but the real key to coming up with a new idea is... taking 10 minutes to focus on finding one. When I do that, I always come up with at least one or two.

I get so frustrated when people tell me they aren't creative and they aren't good at brainstorming new ideas. I've got news for you. I'm an idea guy, but I'm not special. I don't have any special powers that "Non-Creative" people lack. It's truly just that I try.

Most of the people who say they aren't creative have never sat down with the sole purpose of coming up with an idea. As Yoda would say "That is why you fail". It's not a lack of creativity, it's a lack of trying.

Want proof?

Set a timer for 10 mi... [More]

Continue...Your Next Idea is 10 Minutes Away... Guaranteed....

Manage From The Left... But LEAD From The Right.

Saturday, May 2, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Are you a Logical Left Brain Thinker? ... or a Creative Right Brain Thinker? Maybe you should be both.

If I gave you a pen and asked you to write your name on a piece of paper, I would know within seconds if you were right or left handed. This is because the thought of using the opposite hand for something as complex as writing is simply out of the question. Our brains simply favor one hand over the other.

For the same reason, many of our other brain functions favor one side over the other, which can have a major effect on our personality. It determines how we think, what we like, how we see the world, and how we make decisions. Although it's harder compare left vs right thinkers, there are clear differences.

Most left brain thinkers are characterized as logical, orga... [More]

Continue...Manage From The Left... But LEAD From The Right....

Kurt Vonnegut - How to Write a Million Dollar Story

Saturday, April 4, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Is there a formula to writing a popular novel?

According to Kurt Vonnegut, there's not only a formula for writing a popular story, but there's even a shape. Even if you don't have any interest in writing, you can't help but realize he's right. The most successful stories actually have a genuine shape that you can see. Once you see it, you'll never read or listen to stories the same way.

In this video from one of his classic lectures, you'll see Kurt Vonnegut draw a few classic stories, and you can't help but laugh at how simple they are.

To me, there are a few important revelations in this video.

First, since each story had a different shape, what mattered most is that there was a shape. In other words, the public doesn't like stories without a shape. In other word... [More]

Continue...Kurt Vonnegut - How to Write a Million Dollar Story...

Simplify First. Then... Organize.

Friday, April 3, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

One of the reasons some people have a hard time organizing is they have too much stuff to organize in the first place.

If I gave you 2 cards with a number on the back, and asked you to put the highest number on top, odds are, you could do it in less than a second. It would take you a bit longer if I gave you 10 cards, but what if I gave you 500 cards? Clearly, the more cards I gave you, the longer it would take to sort them.

Trying to sort out 500 of anything isn't easy, no matter what they are. Whether it's your record collection, files on your computer, a garage full of stuff, or even abstract things like the ideas in your head. The fact is, the more stuff you have to organize, the longer it will take to do it.

A master organizer might suggest that you just split big... [More]

Continue...Simplify First. Then... Organize....

Creativity Explained - Jerry Seinfeld Tells Us How to Write a Joke

Sunday, March 22, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

We can learn a lot from Jerry Seinfeld from this classic New York Times Interview.

In this interview, we see how he developed a Pop-Tart joke over a two year period, from it's inception to completion. While most comedians, including Seinfeld don't spend two years writing a joke, we can clearly see the reason he has become one of the greatest stand up comics of all time.

He describes how an idea for a joke triggers a series of funny associations that are systematically blended and re-worked time and time again until the he gets the best combination of funny words, rhythm and pacing and the all important punchline.

While this may seem excessive, it's one of the reasons for his prolonged success, and it also gives us a great insight into how all great art is created.

Beh

... [More]

Continue...Creativity Explained - Jerry Seinfeld Tells Us How to Write a Joke...

Demand + Ability + Passion = The Entrepreneur's Formula for Success

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

There are very few guarantees in life. This is one of them. If you follow this formula, you can't fail.

It's been said that most new businesses fail in the first six months. That's being generous. Even fewer last more than a year. Why is this?

Some may blame lack of adequate funding, poor location, or even heavy competition, but the fact is, many of them fail because they didn't follow this simple formula.

Let's start with the basics.

If you can identify where market Demand intersects with your Ability and Passion, you are virtually guaranteed to succeed. If any of these three are not present, don't even start.

It's as simple as that. You need all three. Any combination of less than three won't work. Let's break it down.

If you have Passion and Ability... [More]

Continue...Demand + Ability + Passion = The Entrepreneur's Formula for Success...

Live Long... And Prosper.

Saturday, February 28, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

You don't have to be a fan of Star Trek to recognize those iconic words.

I can't help but think of those words today, as news spread about the loss of Leonard Nimoy at the age of 83.

To me, of all the lines used in Star Trek, "Live Long, and Prosper" is the one that has the greatest meaning, because it's a message of peace and good will towards your neighbor. In a sense, it's the Golden Rule as interpreted by a peaceful race of people living on the imaginary planet of Vulcan.

Leonard Nimoy's "Spock" had a lot of influence on me growing up. He was a man of logic and curiosity, yet because he was half human, he also had depth. Under his logical exterior was a man of character, passion and loyalty. For science and computer geeks like me, Spock was a perfect role model.... [More]

Continue...Live Long... And Prosper....

Done Is Better Than... Perfect.

Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Warning... This site isn't perfect!

In fact, in a lot of ways, this site is so far from perfect that it would make your head spin. Let's take a look.

Not only did I launch this site without using an industry standard blogging platform like Blogger or WordPress, I launched it with software that lacks at least 95% of the features people would expect from a "Real" blog, like letting visitors leave comments or share posts on social media. It lacked the ability to limit the number of blog posts on the home page, the ability to let people subscribe using RSS or email notification. For that matter, it even lacked such fundamentals as actual ideas.

I could go on... it still lacks a real logo, isn't particularly well laid out, and it has poor navigation. While I'm at it, the big... [More]

Continue...Done Is Better Than... Perfect....

Sometimes We Are Neither Winners... or Losers.

Monday, February 9, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Someone from another country watching a group of people playing Frisbee will eventually ask... "Who's winning?"

Our society loves winners. There's nothing wrong with that, but I've noticed that as times goes by, the emphasis on winning seems to get stronger and stronger. I'm not implying that we should strive to be losers, it's just that we often forget that not everything is a contest. We don't need to win, or lose.

They key point is that it's perfectly fine to just do things because we like to do them, not be be the best, or the worst. Just because.

I hope by now you realize I'm not just talking about sports. Take this blog for instance. I've been posting a new idea every day for quite some time now. An outsider may wonder why I do it. Some people may think... [More]

Continue...Sometimes We Are Neither Winners... or Losers....

Visual Harmony. The Key To Effective Presentations.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

If you want people to understand what you say, be sure to pay attention to your other senses, especially sight.

If I said, "DON'T think of a duck", it is nearly impossible to NOT think of a duck because the human mind must first see the duck before it can process the command telling you not to see it. That's pretty cool.

In another twist, if you looked at a photo of a beach, with a caption that says "Think Snow" in big letters, your mind will actually have a hard time thinking about snow, even though it's clearly written.

Scientists took a deck of white cards with color names written on them, and timed how long people take to identify the colors written on them. They then compared it to the time it takes to go through the same number of cards, except this time they color... [More]

Continue...Visual Harmony. The Key To Effective Presentations....

Failed a Test? Repeat it Until You Pass.

Monday, January 12, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

What good is a test if we can't learn from our mistakes?

You're sitting in class as the results from yesterday's test are handed out. It's an important test, and this material is a critical to understanding the rest of the course. You just got a 55. What's next?

If you're like most students, nothing. Although you clearly didn't understand the earlier material, the class must move on. Without fully understanding the earlier material, things are going to get worse. Fast.

This scenario plays out every day in our schools and it's one of the reasons why some students struggle with new material. When a student fails a test, students and teachers rarely go back and cover the failed material. When that happens, all you've done is keep score. When a student didn't understand... [More]

Continue...Failed a Test? Repeat it Until You Pass....

Reinvent The Wheel? YES. There's Always Room For Improvement.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

When people tell me I'm reinventing the wheel, I say... Thanks!

Entrepreneur's, inventors and artists hear it every day.

Why are you working on that?
Don't you know it's been done before?
Isn't there already a something like that on the market?

My advice. Do it anyway.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't reinvent the wheel, build a better mousetrap or improve on something. There is no such thing as perfection, so everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, can be improved.

Only by looking at the status-quo and saying "I can improve it" do things actually change and improve. As a society we MUST reinvent the wheel, we MUST re-think today's technology and ideas if we want to progress.

Thankfully, there are still rebels out there. As Apple say... [More]

Continue...Reinvent The Wheel? YES. There's Always Room For Improvement....

If Your Parents Are Still Around... Have You Called Them Recently?

Monday, October 13, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Last week I realized I had to scroll 5 pages of recent calls to see my parents. Had it been that long? I felt terrible.

Life can be busy at times, but I try to keep in touch with my parents. Did I actually have to scroll that far in my recent call list to see the number? Had it been over a week?

All I can say is, I won't wait that long again.

If your parents are still around... Check your Recent Call List on your phone. How far do you need to scroll to find your parents?

If it takes you a while to find them. What are you waiting for? I'm sure they would love to hear from you.

Remembering Rodney Dangerfield - He taught us how to laugh at ourselves.

Sunday, October 5, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Rodney Dangerfield died 10 years ago today.

It seems like only yesterday, but on October 5th, 2004, Rodney Dangerfield passed away. It's hard to believe it's been that long ago, but I couldn't resist reflecting on his legacy in my thoughts for today.

What stands out most about Rodney Dangerfield was that he was different. Before Rodney came along, most comedians told jokes about other people, whether real or imaginary.

Rodney's jokes were about himself.

Because of Rodney, we learned three life lessons.

1. Joking about other people can hurt their feelings... so DON'T Do it. Poke fun of yourself instead.

2. When you laugh at yourself, people laugh with you... not at you.

Much has been written about Rodney but what stood out most was that most o... [More]

Continue...Remembering Rodney Dangerfield - He taught us how to laugh at ourselves....

Out of Ideas? Fusion of Two or More Ideas Could Change Everything.

Monday, September 29, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

"It's a floor wax... No!... It's a dessert topping. Wait!... You're both right!"

Sometimes the best ideas come from combining two or more simple ideas into something that is better than the sum of the parts. The trick is finding things that actually work together well. So when you hit a dead end, think of Fusion!

Examples of Great Fusion

1. iPhone - Combines a phone, and iPod and and Internet device.

While each of these devices already existed, Apple reinvented the phone by integrating them into a single portable device.

2. Fax Machines

At it's core, the Fax machine is just the combination of a copier and a modem. You can take it one step further and say that a copier is just the combination of a scanner and a printer. Now that many peopl... [More]

Continue...Out of Ideas? Fusion of Two or More Ideas Could Change Everything....

Let your kids be kids.

Saturday, September 20, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Have you noticed that a lot of parents push their kids to dress and act like Hollywood Stars?

I'm not sure why, but a lot parents want their sons to look macho and their daughters to look like glamour models. 13 year old girls wear slinky, low-cut dresses and makeup to their 8th grade prom. Boys wear Ed Hardy t-shirts with skulls on them and other designs that you'd expect from a biker gang... and they can't wait to sport their first tattoos.

Remember when kids were just kids?

Not too long ago, girls weren't obsessed with looking sexy, and boys were comfortable just playing sports.

I think a lot of the pressure is coming from parents, who think their kids don't look "Cool"... like the big stars. They forget that those stars were just regular kids once.

(Pictur... [More]

Continue...Let your kids be kids....

Throw Away Your FAVORITE Shirt! ...It might change your life.

Friday, September 19, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do you have a favorite shirt you've been wearing for years?

I'm talking about a shirt that uniquely defines you and your mood. Perhaps it was the shirt you got at your first Bruce Springsteen concert, or maybe it's just your "Lucky" Ralph Lauren shirt that you wore on your first date.

No matter what it is that makes that shirt special...

THROW IT OUT! - Now, how do you feel?

For some people, especially somebody with hoarding tendencies, you may feel a bit strange. You may even feel like you somehow betrayed the shirt. Relax. The shirt is just fine.

Next week... ask yourself: "How do you feel?"

Guess what? You won't even miss it.. Congratulations. You just realized how many other things you can do without.

Get started. Your attic and garage are... [More]

Continue...Throw Away Your FAVORITE Shirt! ...It might change your life....

Ralph Kramden, A Role Model as an Entrepreneur?

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Was Ralph Kramden a failure... or a great role model?

If you are looking for inspiration as an inventor / entrepreneur, look no further than Ralph Kramden.

"Oh Chef of the Future... I wish I could find a product that can do the work of all these things!"

In this classic episode, he finds a product he can buy for $1 and sell for $10... what could go wrong?

Everything... and nothing.

Simply stated, he saw an opportunity. He took action. Then he failed. THAT's what makes a great Entrepreneur.

If you look at the biographies of hundreds of people who achieved greatness, you will find one thing in common, they all failed again and again. With each failure, they learned something new that eventually led to their success.

Many people are afrai... [More]

Continue...Ralph Kramden, A Role Model as an Entrepreneur?...

Cat Video Network

Ketchonnaise - Pre-Mixed Ketchup and Mayonnaise

A Guaranteed Spam-Free, Pre-Encrypted Email Service

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Sleeveless Snuggies!

Don't Bother With SEO. Use Real People Optimization Instead.

3 Ways Smoke Alarms Can Be More Pet Friendly

Emergency Contact Info Needs to Bypass Locked Phone

Autocorrect Should Translate Text Slang into English... Because Kids Actually Think It's Correct Grammar

Lookalike Finder Site

Out of Ideas? Fusion of Two or More Ideas Could Change Everything.

How Camera Makers Can Simplify On-Camera White Balance

Darth Vader is Retuning to Star Wars?

A Bedside Book Projector - Read Books on the Ceiling!

Reinvent The Wheel? YES. There's Always Room For Improvement.

Amazon Echo as an Intercom. Room to Room Communication, Even Across the World.

TV Needs More Shows Like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood... The Seinfeld of Children's TV

Stop using default Security Questions... here's why.

A Car Periscope? Why Not?

Digital String on Your Finger... To Remind You You Left Something Behind...

Use Social Media to Listen To Your Customers, or They'll find Somebody Who Does.

Why Doesn't Apple Offer a FULL SIZED Wireless Keyboard?

How Banks Can Make Checking Accounts More Secure

4 Cell Phone Parental Control Ideas Your Kids are Guaranteed to Hate.

.Podcast Domain TLDs. A Direct Domain For Podcasters.

* Note: The ideas on "Idea of the Day" were posted without any formal research into existing inventions.

In some cases, patents may already exist for these ideas, in other cases, there may not be any existing patents and you are free to develop and explore the viability of developing and patenting the ideas.

The authors make no claim that any of the ideas are safe, practical, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for the results of trying, developing, patenting or using any of the ideas on this site.

For some people, our ideas are just an interesting read, but our goal is to encourage you to take action. If you see an idea that you like, do something with it... Take action.

- Joe

Idea Of The Day. A new Idea Each Day. Some Don't Suck.

Our Latest Posts About: Inspiration

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The Recent Calls Cha

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The purpose of teaching is to make teaching unnecessary.

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Some of the best ideas started out as a bad idea.

I like dreams of the future better than the history of the past. - Thomas Jefferson

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What made the movie special was that there were only a few "

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Having trouble finding new ideas? Try setting limits.

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Want proof?

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One of the reasons some people have a hard time organizing is they have too much stuff to organize in the first place.

We can learn a lot from Jerry Seinfeld from this classic New York Times Interview.

Beh

There are very few guarantees in life. This is one of them. If you follow this formula, you can't fail.

If you can identify where market Demand intersects with your Ability and Passion, you are virtually guaranteed to succeed. If any of these three are not present, don't even start.

You don't have to be a fan of Star Trek to recognize those iconic words.

Warning... This site isn't perfect!

Someone from another country watching a group of people playing Frisbee will eventually ask... "Who's winning?"

They key point is that it's perfectly fine to just do things because we like to do them, not be be the best, or the worst. Just because.

If you want people to understand what you say, be sure to pay attention to your other senses, especially sight.

What good is a test if we can't learn from our mistakes?

When people tell me I'm reinventing the wheel, I say... Thanks!

My advice. Do it anyway.

Last week I realized I had to scroll 5 pages of recent calls to see my parents. Had it been that long? I felt terrible.

If your parents are still around... Check your Recent Call List on your phone. How far do you need to scroll to find your parents?

Rodney Dangerfield died 10 years ago today.

Rodney's jokes were about himself.

1. Joking about other people can hurt their feelings... so DON'T Do it. Poke fun of yourself instead.

2. When you laugh at yourself, people laugh with you... not at you.

"It's a floor wax... No!... It's a dessert topping. Wait!... You're both right!"

Examples of Great Fusion

1. iPhone - Combines a phone, and iPod and and Internet device.

2. Fax Machines

Have you noticed that a lot of parents push their kids to dress and act like Hollywood Stars?

Remember when kids were just kids?

Do you have a favorite shirt you've been wearing for years?

THROW IT OUT! - Now, how do you feel?

Next week... ask yourself: "How do you feel?"

Was Ralph Kramden a failure... or a great role model?

"Oh Chef of the Future... I wish I could find a product that can do the work of all these things!"

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