The lifecyle of a business & your role within it - Ideation
Not Every Idea Becomes a Business, and Why That Matters
Before the Business, There Was a Fire
Every business begins the same way:
With a spark… Sometimes a BANG!
A thought. A flash. A frustrating experience. A wild idea that whispers, “What if?”
But most sparks fizzle just as fast as they lit up!
They die in notebooks, dinner table rants, and internal debates.
Not because the idea was bad — but because the person holding it didn’t know what to do with it… or who they needed to become to bring it to life.
“Vision without execution is hallucination.” — Thomas Edison
In this first stage of the business life cycle, the biggest conflict isn’t logistical.
It’s internal. It is the Conflict Within.
The Idea Is Not Enough
The modern world idolises innovation. We revere founders for their origin stories — the “aha” moments. But here’s the reality:
An idea is a seed, not a tree.
A seed can remain dormant forever. And like all seeds it requires the right conditions, environment and nurturing to realise and grow to its full potential. It requires belief, action, structure, and sacrifice to germinate.
And belief? That’s the first mountain.
Ideation vs. Initiation
There’s a critical gap between inspiration and action — and that’s where most would-be entrepreneurs get stuck.
This gap is filled with:
Doubt (“What if I fail?”)
Comparison (“Someone’s already doing it”)
Delay (“I’ll start when I have more time… or money… or certainty”)
These are not business problems.
They are identity problems.
The question isn’t just “Is this a good idea?”
It’s:
“Am I the kind of person (do I have everything I need: the skills, resources, network, time, etc) who can bring this to life?”
Most ideas die on this bed of self doubt, and there, many regrets are born.
The Psychology of the Spark
Neuroscience shows that creativity activates the brain’s default mode network — the same region that engages during dreaming and internal reflection.
But according to Adam Grant in Originals, the people who act on ideas are not the ones who feel confident — but the ones who tolerate uncertainty long enough to test it.
“The hallmark of originality is not being first. It’s being different and better.” — Adam Grant
Why Most Sparks Fizzle
Here are the common causes of creative death-by-inertia:
Fear of visibility (“What will people think?”)
Fear of failure (“What if I waste time or money?”)
Fear of Capability (“Imposter syndrome - what if I am not good enough”)
Lack of support (“I’m on my own in this”)
Over-perfectionism (“It’s not ready yet” becomes permanent)
These fears are valid and part of our survival coding as a species.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear" F.D Roosevelt
So, what if the real risk isn’t failure — but it is staying the same?
Your Role in the Spark Stage
If you’re here — sitting with an idea, unsure what to do — then your role is simple but essential:
Protect the spark (write it down, talk about it, dream it out loud)
Pressure test the idea (who does this serve? what problem does it solve? How is it being received by your circle of trust?)
Start small (progress > perfection and starting is the best way to give it life)
The spark is the stage of becoming.
Not a CEO. Not a founder.
But a person who says yes to risk and no to stagnation.Afterall, tell me a thing in life - any thing that does not carry risk?
Visual Concept: The Spark Lifecycle
(Imagine a 4-part visual loop)
Spark
Doubt
Decision
Direction
Every idea goes through this — the ones that make it become ventures.
Reflection Prompt
What idea has been living in you longer than you’ve admitted out loud?
What’s one tiny act you can take today to honor that spark?
References & Resources
Grant, A. Originals
Edison, T. (quoted in multiple biographies)
Pink, D. Drive
Johnson, S. Where Good Ideas Come From
✅ Next in Series:
Blog 2: The Cost of Creation – Sacrifice, Capital, and Commitment
What you're really signing up for when you decide to build something real.