Turning Ideas into Action: From Concept to Creation

In this insightful episode of "Get Over Your Shit," Malinda Watt takes listeners on a transformative journey of turning ideas into actionable steps. Aimed at breaking down mental barriers, this episode is a beacon for those stuck in the cul-de-sacs of self-doubt, featuring practical steps to launch your ideas into the world.

Listeners will learn the importance of evaluating ideas, planning strategically, and gathering necessary resources from the ground up. The episode emphasizes the value of creating a minimal viable product (MVP) and pushing through mental roadblocks like fear of failure, procrastination, and lack of resources. With references to entrepreneurial success stories like Jenna Kutcher, Amy Porterfield, and Pat Flynn, Malinda illustrates the power of taking imperfect action and shifting mindsets to achieve business growth and personal fulfillment.

Key Takeaways:

• Evaluate Your Ideas: Determine the viability of your ideas by assessing if they solve a problem and meet a demand.
• Plan and Prototype: Break down your grand concepts into smaller, manageable steps and create a minimal viable product to test the waters.
• Resource Management: Identify what tools or help you need and gather these resources efficiently to proceed.
• Confronting Mental Barriers: Recognize and overcome fear of failure and procrastination by starting with what you have.
• Accountability and Execution: Work with others to maintain accountability and take consistent steps toward executing your plans.

Episode Links & Mentions:

• Free Workbook: Download Malinda Watt's "Concept to Creation" workbook at https://malindawatt.com/takeaction/

"Ideas are just the starting point. What really matters is turning those ideas into reality."

Additional Links & Resources:

• Stop letting content keep you stuck—jumpstart your website planning with clarity and confidence! Get your content organized in just a few hours: https://malindawatt.com/planner
• Try Siteground, my favorite website hosting company: Siteground.com
• Learn more about me and my work at malindawatt.com

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Get Over Your Sh!t! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a rating or review. Share this with someone who needs a push to start taking action—because we’re all about moving forward together!

Hosted by Malinda Watt
Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios
Music License purchased from stockmusic.com

Transcript

0:00:00 - (Malinda Watt): Welcome back to get over your shit, the podcast dedicated to helping digital course creators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners stop overthinking and start executing. I'm Melinda Watt, your host and fellow overthinker, here to guide you through the maze of self-doubt and procrastination that keep us stuck. Today we're tackling the topic I know so many of us struggle how to turn your ideas into action.

0:00:23 - (Malinda Watt): Whether you're a digital course creator, entrepreneur, or a small business owner, you probably have more ideas than you know what to do with. But here's the thing. Ideas are just the starting point. What really matters is turning those ideas into reality. We all have a tendency to overthink, second guess ourselves, and get stuck in our own heads, especially when it comes to launching something new. Fear of failure, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, you name it, I've been there.

0:00:51 - (Malinda Watt): This very podcast is a reflection of that. Eight years I've owned the domain, and it's only now, in October of 2024, that I finally launched it. So if you're listening, thank you. I appreciate you so, so much. If you wanna move your business forward, you've gotta stop spinning your wheels and start taking action. Today, I'm going to break down the steps to get you from that spark of an idea all the way to full execution.

0:01:18 - (Malinda Watt): You'll learn how to evaluate your idea, plan, gather resources, and launch, all while pushing past the mental barriers that hold so many of us. Alright, so let's get into the nitty-gritty. Here are the five steps you need to take to go from concept to creation. Step one, evaluating your idea. First things first, you need to assess whether your idea is worth pursuing. This isn't about being harsh on yourself. It's about making sure you're spending your time and energy on something that's viable.

0:01:51 - (Malinda Watt): Ask yourself, does this idea solve a problem? Is there a demand for it? And who will benefit from this? If your idea checks these boxes, it's time to move forward. Step two, planning. Once you've evaluated your idea, the next step is to create a plan. This is where most of us get stuck in analysis paralysis, right? We want everything to be perfect. But planning doesn't have to be overwhelming. Start by breaking down your big idea into smaller, actionable steps.

0:02:22 - (Malinda Watt): What's the first thing you need to do? What's your timeline? Set realistic milestones and hold yourself accountable. Step three, resource gathering. Now that you have a plan, it's time to figure out what you need to make it happen. This could be tools, software, people, or even just more time on your schedule. Do you need help with tech? Do you need to outsource a task that's not in your zone of genius?

0:02:48 - (Malinda Watt): Be honest about what you can do and where you need support. Step four, prototyping and testing before you go all in, start small. Create a minimal viable product, an MVP, something you can test without syncing all your resources into it. This could be a beta version of your course, a pilot project, or even just a landing page to gauge interest. Prototyping allows you to gather feedback, make adjustments, and validate your idea before a full scale launch.

0:03:20 - (Malinda Watt): Step five, execution the part we all fear here's a secret, you're never going to feel 100% ready, so stop waiting for that moment. Take imperfect action. Get your minimal viable product that MVP out there, gather feedback, and iterate as you go. Don't be afraid to start small. You can always build and scale over time. The important thing is to start to help you take action on everything we're talking about today, I've created a workbook for you.

0:03:52 - (Malinda Watt): It's called concept to your step-by-step guide. It's a free workbook that walks you through the exact steps we're covering in this episode, from evaluating your idea all the way to launching it. Inside the workbook, you'll find prompts, checklists, and space to work through each step. So by the time you're done, you'll have a clear plan of action to turn your idea into reality. It's perfect if you're ready to stop overthinking and start executing.

0:04:18 - (Malinda Watt): To grab your free copy, just head to malindawatt.com/takeaction or check the show notes for the link. Let's get that idea out of your head and into the world. Let's be real. Taking action is tough. There are going to be obstacles that pop up, and most of them are mental. Three big ones I see all the time are fear of failure, lack of resources, and good old procrastination. I personally get stuck in the fear of failure and procrastination.

0:04:52 - (Malinda Watt): I've accumulated so many resources over the years I could open a blockbuster rental if renting out courses you've purchased was a real thing. Look, fear of failure is completely normal. But here's the you will fail at some point, and that's okay. Failure is part of the process. The key is to fail forward, learn from your mistakes, and keep moving. The worst thing you can do is let that fear stop you from even trying.

0:05:21 - (Malinda Watt): Honestly, you need to have moments of failure to establish what it means to pivot and find that sweet spot that creates a business you love. Lack of resources this one's tricky because yeah, sometimes you just don't have the budget, time or tools you need, but dont let that become an excuse. Start where you are with what you have. There are so many free and low cost tools out there and if you need more time, look at your schedule and see what you can cut out.

0:05:50 - (Malinda Watt): The goal is progress, not perfection. You dont need to subscribe to expensive software to test your ideas. Even something as simple as a Google document that you share on Facebook or to a small email list can work as a sales page. You just want to be sure to set the share link which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the Google document to view only and then share the shit out of it. Procrastination ah, procrastination my old friend.

0:06:19 - (Malinda Watt): We've all been there putting off tasks because we're overwhelmed or don't know where to start. My best advice? Just do something. Break down your tasks into the smallest possible steps and knock them out one by one. The momentum will come, but you have to take that first step. As I record this podcast I just launched the first three episodes yesterday and I needed to make sure to record this episode for next week.

0:06:46 - (Malinda Watt): I'm pushing forward, focusing on the task at hand to ensure I have enough time to get this episode to my editor, Chris, without putting unnecessary stress on her as she takes all the final steps in making sure this episode is ready for next week. So this might be the biggest takeaway of this episode. How can you flip the deadline of what you're working on so that you can shift the approach that you're going to put the burden of getting it done onto someone else's to do list.

0:07:15 - (Malinda Watt): It's interesting that with this podcast and being able to have an editor has flipped my execution to respect how my lack of execution is going to affect someone else whose time I value. Let's talk about a few real world examples of entrepreneurs who pushed past these barriers and turned their ideas into something amazing. First up, Jenna Kutcher. She's a well known name in the online business world, but her journey started with a simple dream and a lot of hustle.

0:07:44 - (Malinda Watt): Jenna began as a wedding photographer and quickly realized she could teach others what she had learned along the way. With just her passion, a camera, and a willingness to share her story, she built a successful brand that has evolved into a multi million dollar business, empowering entrepreneurs worldwide. Another great example is Amy Porterfield, who transitioned from corporate life into building her own thriving online education empire.

0:08:11 - (Malinda Watt): She didn't have all the answers when she started, but she knew she had valuable insights to share about digital marketing Amy launched her first online course without waiting for perfection, and now she's a leader in the space, teaching others how to launch, grow and scale their online businesses with digital course academy. Another great example is Pat Flynn, who turned a job layoff into an opportunity to build a successful online business.

0:08:38 - (Malinda Watt): He didn't know everything about entrepreneurship when he started, but he was willing to experiment and learn along the way. Pat launched his first passive income stream by creating a study guide for an exam he had taken, and that success led to him exploring other ventures. Now he teaches thousands of people how to create their own passive income streams and achieve financial freedom. And all three also have podcasts.

0:09:01 - (Malinda Watt): The Gold Digger podcast with Jenna Kutcher. Online marketing made easy with Amy Porterfield and the Smart Passive Income online business and blogging podcast with Pat Flynn. These people didn't wait for perfect conditions. They took messy, imperfect action. And that's what you and I need to do, too. Let's finish up with some quick, practical tips to help you start taking action on your ideas today. Tip one break it down.

0:09:28 - (Malinda Watt): Don't get overwhelmed by the big picture. Break your idea into bite-sized tasks and focus on one thing at a time. Tip two set a deadline. Give yourself a deadline for your first action. Step. It could be as simple as making a call or getting your ideas down in a Google document, setting up a simple calendar to allow someone to book a call with you, an email list, or start writing the content for your simple one page website.

0:09:56 - (Malinda Watt): The point is to create urgency and get moving. Tip three find accountability. Get an accountability partner. This could be a friend, a business coach, or even an online community. Having someone to check in with can make all the difference in staying on track. Years ago, when I was still working in a job as a graphic designer for a big manufacturing company, I knew the end goal was to get back to self employment.

0:10:24 - (Malinda Watt): I met with two of my friends, Carrie and Sheila Weekly, all of us entrepreneurs. Together, we'd brainstorm what was going on in our businesses and pick what it was we'd each be focusing on for the week ahead. We didn't feel alone. We had someone else that was going to ask if we had done the things we promised we'd do the week before and we could be completely honest with each other without worrying that we are going to hurt the other person.

0:10:47 - (Malinda Watt): We fleshed out so many ideas in those months together, and the end result for me was finally handing in my resignation at my job after almost six years with the company. So there you have it. The steps to turn your ideas into action. Evaluate, plan, gather resources, prototype, and most importantly, execute. You're going to face obstacles, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can push through them.

0:11:14 - (Malinda Watt): I hope today's episode gave you some clarity and motivation to finally get started on that idea you've been sitting on. Don't wait for the perfect moment. It doesn't exist. Start now, take imperfect action and keep moving forward. And don't forget to download your free workbook. It'll walk you through the exact steps we just covered in this episode. You'll find prompts to use in chat, GPT checklists, and space to work through each step, so by the time you're done, you'll have clear path of action to turn your idea into reality.

0:11:46 - (Malinda Watt): It's perfect if you're ready to stop overthinking and start executing, you can find a link in the show notes or grab a copy at malindawatt.com/takeaction. Let's get that idea out of your head and into the world. Thank you for tuning into this episode of get over your shit. If you found this helpful, be sure to subscribe. Share this episode with a fellow overthinker and leave a review until next time.

0:12:15 - (Malinda Watt): Remember, progress over perfection. Keep moving forward. You've got this.