Have you ever heard someone respond to a suggestion with: “That’s a good idea, but it’s not possible because…”? Or maybe, like me, you’ve said something similar yourself? If we’re being honest, most of us probably have—whether consciously or not. Just think about how many good ideas have been lost because we dismissed them too quickly. Sometimes, it’s precisely because something seems impossible that we should try even harder to make it happen.
It’s often when we face the greatest obstacles that the most creative solutions emerge. If we limit ourselves to what’s already possible, we lose the chance to create something truly new. Think about the airplane, the lightbulb—or even the idea of having all the world’s knowledge in your pocket. Who thought that was possible before it actually was?
Why Ideas Deserve Time and Space
Many of the world’s greatest innovations have come from people who dared to challenge the status quo and explore what first seemed unattainable. Still, we often set up mental barriers and reject ideas before giving them a real chance. This mindset can be a major obstacle to progress.
Think about it: dismissing an idea because it doesn’t fit “right now” is like throwing away seeds without giving them the chance to grow. Maybe the timing is off, or the circumstances aren’t right. But that doesn’t mean the idea lacks potential. What if we asked, “How can we make this work?” instead of concluding that it won’t?
Give Your Ideas a Chance
To tap into the full potential of good ideas, we need to build a culture that allows them time and space to develop before they’re rejected. Who knows what brilliant solutions we might uncover if we gave ideas a bit more attention and persistence?
Keep track of all your ideas—even if you’re not using them right away. Store them in a “drawer,” but revisit that drawer regularly. Some ideas that didn’t work before might be perfect now. Maybe you’ll see them in a new light, or the context has changed to make them viable.
Forgotten Ideas Can Become Future Solutions
When we look back at ideas we’ve previously dismissed, we may find gold—ideas that just need a little polishing. Ask yourself why something didn’t work. Was the timing wrong? Did you lack the right resources? Or could your current experience and insight breathe new life into it?
I personally keep around 50 blog articles ready for publishing, but before I schedule them, I revisit and refine each one. I also have an archive with over 100 drafts—some are just titles—that I browse through for inspiration. This article, for instance, came from a draft where I had only written “save your ideas.”
I also keep a bank of business ideas and product improvements, waiting to mature. Some may not be realistic just yet, but I hope that one day the timing or finances will be right to launch them. It’s all about giving ideas time to find their place—whether in personal projects or big dreams.
Maybe someday I’ll meet an investor who believes in the same things I do and has the capital to help me build a team and realize an idea that creates jobs and future income in a global market. It’s about being ready when opportunity knocks—and believing that your ideas are worth it.
In a Company, the Idea Bank Can Be a Goldmine
Companies that systematically nurture ideas often have an edge in innovation and development. One of the best-known examples is 3M—the company behind Post-it Notes.
3M has long encouraged employees to share ideas through its “15% time” program, which lets them spend 15% of their work hours exploring their own projects. Many of these ideas go into the company’s internal idea bank, making them available for other teams and management. This culture led to the invention of Post-it Notes—an idea that was initially considered useless. As technology and needs evolved, the idea was revisited—and the rest is history. Today, Post-it Notes are iconic.
This shows how a structured idea bank and a culture that gives ideas space can lead to both major breakthroughs and small improvements that generate long-term value. As a leader, you have the opportunity to build such a culture—one where no thought is too small to be considered.
What’s Your Next Brilliant Idea?
Next time you—or someone around you—has an idea or suggestion, don’t let it fade into oblivion. Write it down, no matter how small, silly, or ill-timed it may seem. It can be just a title, a sentence, or an image. What matters is capturing the idea before it slips away.
I regularly take screenshots of things I see online—an inspiring design, an article idea, or something that sparks a thought I want to remember. Even if I don’t use it right away, I know it’s there as a reminder. Later, it might be just what I need to develop something new.
In a company, this should be part of the culture. A shared idea bank accessible to everyone can become a treasure trove. Whether you work in leadership, marketing, product development, or any other department, this kind of system allows ideas to be gathered and actively used. It’s about making sure good thoughts aren’t lost—but instead reviewed and considered during the next strategic decision.
Make it a habit to revisit the idea bank—both alone and as a team. Maybe something that didn’t work before is now viable because the world has changed. New technologies, trends, or shifting needs can give old ideas new life. Sometimes, we see solutions in a completely new light when we revisit them with fresh eyes.
Who knows? Maybe an idea you dismissed today could become the beginning of something big tomorrow. It’s not about every idea becoming reality—but about giving them time, space, and attention to grow.
How do you capture and nurture ideas? Feel free to share your thoughts and tips in the comments! Your method might just inspire someone else.
