Don’t Hide From Innovation: How to Express Creativity in Your Impact

Fear is a liar.

But, fear is real.

I used to be afraid of the dark.  Who wasn’t?  

You have to develop a great imagination when you grow up as an only child.  In most cases, this is a good thing.  It really sparks creativity and helps the mind get used to challenging itself.  However, there are some cases where it’s not so great.

I wasn’t a monster under my bed kid but there was something about the dark that was so unpredictable.  To this day, I much prefer the day time.  I’m not afraid of the dark (at least when I’m in a familiar place) but it’s not as enjoyable as daylight.  There’s an E-Impact Blog entry here somewhere related to the value of natural light over artificial but safe to say that darkness can be uncomfortable.  

I could also riff on overcoming fear for quite a bit.  Maybe I will do this that’s also for another entry.  It is important however, for the rest of this one, to believe fears can be overcome.  You CAN conquer what scares you.

Sleeping it Off

I suppose some of my discomfort as a child with the dark was related to my sleep habits.  All of my life, I have never been able to fall asleep quickly.  I have learned ways to stimulate my mind in a more relaxing way to cope with the condition.  My wife thinks I’m crazy (for many reasons, actually) and is slightly annoyed by my nighttime podcasting habits.  

Many people have advised me that it’s not actually helping me to listen to words (some times live sporting events) as I lay in bed.  It seems to help so I continue to do it (with a timer to shut off after about an hour).

I remember being a young boy laying in the dark uncomfortably.   I was just a bit worried about the unknown.  The blinds in my room did a good job of blocking out the street light outside my window.  There was just a little light that snuck through and the “safest” part of the room was over by the window where I could see the edge of a dresser and bookshelf.  

I had to lay on my left side to face the window.  It was also the side of the bed that wasn’t up against the wall and a good way to make sure I didn’t roll off the bed (this is a legitimate fear too).  I think this is part of the reason why I prefer laying on my left side to this day.  

By the time I was ten years old, I would say I had mastered my sleep routine.  One other thing I remember is that the washer and dryer were just outside my room and I remember my mom doing laundry most nights.  There was something soothing about the noises of the machines.  Ironically, our washer and dryer today are also just outside our room and I wasn’t too worried about the noise rating when we replaced them recently.  In fact, I have developed such a need for noise as I fall asleep that complete silence (no machines and no podcasts or live broadcasts) is a little scary.

I literally just had to switch clothes from the washer to the dryer.  You can’t make this up!

It took years but I overcame my fear of the dark.  I developed habits,  which consequently, have been a big focus of the impactmaker movement and are a foundational premise in my book, “Personal Finance in a Public World”.  

The Night Game

When I got a little older, darkness was actually an essential part of a game my friends and I used to play.

Some people call this “Ghost”.  But, we called it “The Night Game”.  It’s not very creative but it worked.  I think my only child mind was just happy to not have to make up a game-the title didn’t matter.  

The game was simple.  It was hide and seek in the dark.  We made the room pitch black.  Any light would ruin it.  It was almost always played at our family friends’ house in one specific bedroom.  The room wasn’t that big and so you really couldn’t go anywhere.  You hid under the bed, in the closet, or behind a dresser.  Looking back, how did we spend so many hours playing this game with such a little variety?

We played so much because it was funny.  Whoever was “it” would stand outside the room and when everyone was ready, we would yell to the person to let them know they could come in.  The person would have to open the door and back into the room so as to not see anything with the light from outside the room.  They would close the door and fumble around the room trying to tag someone.  Once they tagged someone (or in some cases think they tagged someone), they would have to say their name.  If they were correct, the other person was “it”.  If they were wrong, they were still it.  

I think the most enjoyable part of the game was making comments while the person was stumbling through the room to find you.  In one way, it was important to be silent to avoid alerting them of where you are.  But, when they first closed the door, there was a small window of opportunity to crack a joke or try to throw them off.

The darkness had become a great source of entertainment and joy.  Sometimes, my parents had to drag me out of the house because I wanted to stay and play more.

Hiding in Plain Sight

I can’t imagine how much fun I would have avoided had I not overcome my fear of the darkness.  I think every kid does.  But, we can’t take it for granted.  

Irrational fears exist.  They say there is a better chance of dying in a traffic accident than a plane crash.  I still get nervous every time I fly.  A cockroach or a daddy longlegs spider can’t do much to hurt you.  But, we scream and cringe when we see them. 

I believe that outside of insects, public speaking, and death, most fears are manifested in the unknown. 

Humans want to know what to expect.  Could you imagine your dentist diving into your mouth without letting you know what you’re going to feel?  Could you also imagine not getting your cavity fixed and your tooth rotting out?

We must overcome our fears of the unknown to experience growth.

There are present things to be missed if we avoid a little discomfort.  

I’m not asking you to jump out of a plane or trust your dentist implicitly (although E-Impact 33 did).

I am just asking you to be a little more open to the unique opportunities that are readily available.

Don’t Hate, Innovate

The reason why I am asking you to take on your fear of the unknown is that I know some things need to change.  I understand that’s a pretty broad claim. 

Bob, what are the specifics!?

I am glad you asked.  I am also glad that you are going to answer.

Review the October 13, 2020 E-Impact Blog entry.  It will help you develop an impact project-in other words, the answer to the question.

The specifics are the thing or things you have identified as situations that need to be addressed.  Your impact project and mission is to make the situation better; to make the world a better place.

Don’t hate on yourself.  Your focus is a worthy cause.  Whether you’ve been at it for decades or it’s an idea you just thought of this morning, it’s got to be solved.  

The way challenging situations are fixed is by innovation.  I am not writing about your typical daily issue.  For example, if my dryer stops before the clothes are dry, I’ll start it up again.  It’s a problem that it stopped but there’s no question as of how to fix it.  I’d like to think I invested the high-efficiency ventless dryer (our dryer is sweet!), but sadly, that was not my innovation.   

An impactmaker innovation is a solution to a much deeper issue.  It’s something that is going to take a lot of thought, a little fear, and a whole bunch of innovation.  

See Free Wheelchair Mission.  Now this is an innovative solution.  They also have the word “impact” on their home page!

How to Express Your Creativity in Impact

Here are five things I suggest all impactmakers with a problem and no solution do (in this order):

1. Determine if there are any current solutions (or attempted solutions) to the problem.

A. Are the hungry being fed? How?

B. Are the animals being rescued? How?

2. Consult the existing leaders or research previous efforts.

A. Why do they do what they do?  What’s their purpose?

B. How do they do what they do?  Who’s involved?

3. Consider adding to the existing efforts or find a way to duplicate them in another area of need.

A. Can your creativity add to the cause?

B. Can your leadership broaden the reach of the effort?

4. Brainstorm a new or different way to address the issue?

A. Do you know of any methods that could help immediately?

B. What sticks out to you?

5. Recruit others to help.

A. Who do you know that is also passionate about the cause?

B. How are you doing to scale your efforts in the future?

Creativity does not come solely from within.  Existing efforts and other people are going to help you.  Also,

Don’t Do it Alone!

Fear is much less daunting with a partner.  Or better yet, a team.  We are meant to be in community.  We celebrate the joyful together and we also struggle through what’s scary.

Creativity is one of the parts of life that should be shared.  It’s a point of collaboration.

Don’t “Ghost” Your Impact

Regardless if we called it “The Night Game” or “Ghost”, my friends and I needed each other to enjoy hide and seek in the dark.  The late 80’s and early 90’s didn’t have the same forms of entertainment as these days.  Somehow, we took a small dark room and made lifelong memories.  It truly shaped some of our lives.

Your impact project is just the same.  Step out of your comfort zone. Face the fear.  And let your creativity take over.

Your innovation may not change the world.  But, it will change the world for someone.