Have you ever come up with an idea that seemed so incredibly imaginative it filled you with an inexpressible joy? Yet, the time, money, resources or connections weren’t there to make it happen yet. This is common for inspired creatives. It can make you feel very frustrated to have such an amazing vision, yet know that you don’t have what it takes to bring it into reality yet.
Don’t despair. There’s something a bit prophetic about these inspired ideas. They set the stage for what can be in the future. Almost like a seed planted in the mind, an inspired idea goes into the ground and begins gathering everything it needs to become a full grown tree.
Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden on old bridge - from Atlas Shrugged Part 1
There’s a scene in Atlas Shrugged where Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden are standing by an old bridge in front of her freshly laid railroad track. Dagny knows the bridge needs to be replaced with one made of Rearden Metal. Then it would last another century. But her designers tell her that it’s too costly. Not only that, the designs they come up with are antiquated and do not adapt to the lighter, stronger metal’s capabilities. She decides to just reinforce the existing bridge with Rearden Metal and hope it lasts for another five years.
She stands at the bridge with Hank Rearden who tells her it won’t cost as much as she thinks to do the job right. He shows her pages of sketches and mathematical formulas and explains how his vision of an innovative bridge made of Rearden Metal could span the gulf and last another century.
Hank,” she asked, “did you invent this in two days?”
“Hell, no. I ‘invented’ it long before I had Rearden Metal. I figured it out while making steel for bridges. I wanted a metal with which one would be able to do this, among other things. I came here just to see your particular problem for myself.”
Notice that the vision of the bridge came years before Hank Rearden ever invented Rearden Metal. That vision, planted like a seed in Rearden’s mind, led him to the invention and accumulation of everything he needed to make it a reality. Dagny’s need became Rearden’s opportunity to see the fulfillment of his vision.
Success is when preparation meets opportunity.
So hang onto those visionary ideas. Don’t discard them. Don’t let anyone tell you they are impossible. In time, as you take action, everything you need will be brought forward to make it a reality.
About Marnie Marcus
Marnie (Pehrson) Marcus is a best-selling author, speaker, certified SimplyHealedTM practitioner, and product creation specialist who shows you how to transform your knowledge and expertise into books, virtual products and online platform. Find out how you can work with Marnie here. Let the past go and make 2015 your best year yet! Get an Energy QuickShift.