In one of his daily blog posts Seth Godin wrote about “Hiding ideas”.
Some people hesitate to share an idea because they’re worried it will be stolen.
In general, these people are afraid of success, not failure. An idea unspoken is a safe one, which not only can’t be stolen, but it can’t be tested, criticized, improved or used in the real world.
I have written before about the concern some trainers have of “people stealing my stuff”. “Stolen” implies that you take someone else’s material and claim it as your own without giving credit to the original source. Stealing content is not acceptable.
Borrowing ideas, concepts, principles and ideas is acceptable. The reality is that very little, if anything that we write about or teach is original. Pretty much everything is borrowed from someone else. We borrow ideas from books, blogs, interviews, and courses. We borrow ideas from coaches, teachers, trainers, leaders, researchers, authors, bloggers, parents, peers, scientists, and students.
What makes the content you teach unique is not the content; it is putting your voice to the content. It is taking ideas, concepts, principles and research from a variety of sources and connecting the dots between them to make it applicable to the audience you are addressing.
Knowledge is not power; it is potential. The potential to engage, encourage and empower others. It is the potential to ignite new ideas and new conversations. It is the potential to generate new knowledge and new connections. That potential is only realized and activated when you share the knowledge, insights and ideas that you have.
If you have an idea that can enhance training, improve culture or enhance the wellness of the heroic men and women of law enforcement, then share it so it can be tested, criticized, improved and used in the real world. That will allow your idea to grow, improve, spread and inspire ideas in others. That is how we continue to enhance our training, and the profession as a whole.
Take care.
Brian Willis
Winning Mind Training – Dedicated to the heroic men and women of law enforcement.
Dare to Be Great Leadership – Committed to helping aspiring and frontline leaders on their leadership journey.
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