How to Manage IDEA VS NEED: Balancing Creativity and Action

As a project manager and business coach, I’ve seen it time and time again, especially among neurodiverse entrepreneurs and creatives: the tension between our brilliant ideas and the practical realities of building a sustainable business. We are visionaries, idea machines, and passionate problem-solvers. However, sometimes, that very creativity can turn into a trap.

What we want to do vs. what we need to do (and what we are actually doing). Let’s unpack this.

The Creative Mind: A Blessing and a Balancing Act

Having a mind that generates ideas constantly is a gift. You might wake up with a new product concept, pivot your marketing strategy over lunch, and by dinner, dream up an entirely new business idea or podcast series. That's incredible! Yet, without structure, this creative energy can become overwhelming.

You may find yourself so absorbed in generating new ideas that you aren't taking action. As time passes, creative ideas remain just that. Ideas. How do we honour our creativity without letting it derail our progress?

Embrace Your Creativity with Structure

Here's a simple approach: establishing a structured routine. Here's how to do it:

• Dedicate Time for Idea Development: Schedule specific times to brainstorm and explore your ideas. This way, you allow your mind to roam freely, but only during designated times.

• Set Boundaries: When working on tasks, minimize distractions. Turn off notifications on your devices and create a focused work environment.

  
  

By maintaining this delicate balance, you can harness your creativity while ensuring that your business moves forward.

The “Parking Lot” Strategy: Save It, Don’t Scrap It

One powerful tool I recommend is creating a “parking lot.” This is a space, physical or digital, where you store your ideas for later. Consider the following options:

• A dedicated notebook or whiteboard

• A Trello board labelled “Future Ideas”

• A voice memo folder on your phone

  
  

This approach allows you to acknowledge your ideas without feeling pressured to act on them immediately. You're not saying “no;” you're saying “not yet.” Don’t skip writing them down; get these ideas out of your head and save them for later. Storing ideas mentally can lead to a rumination trap.

As an artistic individual, I decided to dedicate my spare time to learning poetry. A brilliant poet friend advised me, “Create a note on your phone for when you have a great thought or one-liner.” This simple practice proved invaluable. When I finally sat down to write, I discovered a treasure trove of concepts, and the poems flowed effortlessly.

I have incorporated this concept into my business strategy as well. I take it further by adding subtasks to each idea, rating them as A, B, C, or D in order of importance and practicality. I then implement these ideas in priority order. By using a ranking system, I can advance multiple projects simultaneously, instead of attempting to complete them one at a time.

What Needs to Get Done: Prioritizing with Purpose

Now, let's get practical. You only have a limited number of hours in a day. As mentioned earlier, the key is to rank your tasks by importance and urgency. Focusing on the future helps us build the bigger picture.

To genuinely build a business, there are essential tasks we need to complete daily. Many entrepreneurs I’ve encountered refer to these necessary routines as the ‘boring part’ of business-building. However, if we can complete even one task a day, we're one step closer to our goals than we were yesterday.

Understanding Your Unique Needs

Being neurodiverse means that specific strategies and "mainstream advice" may not resonate with you. As someone who identifies as neurodiverse, I love to learn new strategies and then select what works while discarding the rest.

Ultimately, many of these techniques are straightforward and can be easily adapted to fit your unique neurodiverse style:

1. Daily and Weekly To-Do System: Start by brain-dumping tasks into a weekly list. Schedule these into your calendar each morning. I use a whiteboard with three sections: daily, weekly, and “want-to-do.” Urgent tasks go directly onto the weekly list. Each day, I prioritize tasks for that day and include a few “wish I were doing” tasks (because not every part of business is exciting). I rank tasks using colored markers, and erasing them feels incredibly satisfying. If a task feels daunting, I set a timer or listen to brown noise to get started, rewarding myself with something fun afterward.

   

   Whiteboard for task tracking

   
   

2. Kanban: This project management tool promotes an agile approach to moving tasks along. For solo entrepreneurs, I recommend a simplified version. Create a list of tasks and move them through stages: 'to-do,' 'in progress,' and 'complete.' You can use free online tools or even sticky notes on a wall.

   

   A simplified Kanban board

   
   

3. Eisenhower Matrix: This method helps you organize tasks by importance and urgency. It divides tasks into four categories based on what to prioritize, schedule, delegate, and what can wait.

   

   A simplified Eisenhower Matrix

   
   

The biggest piece of advice I can offer is to know when to stop. Recognizing when your energy is spent is vital. Business management, much like laundry, is never truly "finished." Your to-do list will always have items on it, and prioritizing allows you the best chance of juggling your tasks effectively.

What Are You Actually Doing?

Here lies the trap: We often dwell in our thoughts, ruminating, planning, and worrying. We may feel accomplished simply by thinking about our tasks. But here’s the reality: we must take action.

Audit Your Daily Time.

This isn’t about impressing anyone; it’s about gaining a realistic understanding of how you spend your time. Everyone’s life is unique, and individual commitments vary. If you're balancing a full-time job or family duties, you may find that your available time for action is limited. This doesn't mean you can't be successful; it may just take longer or require longer workdays.

Awareness is crucial. Try this exercise:

1. For one day, write down everything you do. No shame, no editing.

2. At the end of the day, ask: Do I feel good about how I spent my time?

3. If yes, fantastic! If not, consider one small thing you could change tomorrow.

   
   

This exercise isn't about guilt; it’s about awareness. We may find ourselves doing tasks we don't enjoy out of necessity. Alternatively, we may realize we spent time on less productive activities, like binge-watching shows or mindless scrolling.

Could you replace even a small portion of that time with one action that supports your business goals?

Ultimately, learning how to separate what you want to do from what you need to do can be a game-changer. By prioritizing effectively and honoring both your creative spirit and practical necessities, you can build the sustainable business you envision.