Introduction to Idea Management for Multipassionate Creatives

If you’ve stumbled upon my blog, then you most likely identify as one or all of the following:

• Multipassionate
• Multidisciplinary
• Renaissance Human
• Hobbyist
• Cozy Creative
• Avid Sidequester

This can mean a great many things, but at its core, I’m guessing you have no problems coming up with ideas. You have problems taking action on those ideas.

If that is you – no worries. You are in good company.

The day I discovered that being multipassionate was not my downfall, but my gift, was the day I found freedom in my unique creative process. However, that was just the beginning of the journey.

Great! I’m not broken, just different. Now what?

The honeymoon stage of my personal Renaissance quickly wore off and I needed something tangible. It started with a simple prayer: “Help.”

The answer to the prayer came in the form of a divine download. I describe it that way because that’s exactly how it felt. It was like Neo being plugged into the computer to download Kung Fu. I asked a question, and God plopped a solution directly into my brain matter. It’s nothing overly fancy; it just takes foundations from traditional time-management and organizational tools and retrofits it in a way that is life-giving for those of us who aren’t so…organized.

Oh – and I use a lot of Skyrim references to make establishing some momentum feel less sterile.

What is Idea Management?

One of my biggest challenges was moving my ideas from thought into action. Moving the needle, as they say. Let’s set the scene and see if it resonates, shall we?

You have endless ideas swirling around your head. In an attempt to keep them organized, you buy a planner. The planner isn’t perfect; there are too many lines and boxes but not enough space for your random brain dumps. So you opt for a notebook, which works well for a time before it becomes too open ended. You cycle through more planners, notebooks, and organizational systems. It makes you feel like you are doing something, but when you take a longer look, you see that it has been 6 months and all you’ve done is created a library of half finished notebooks.

Don’t feel attacked – that was (and sometimes still can be) me.

You need structure. I talk more about that at length here, but today I am going to introduce you to the concept of idea management.

Here is my definition:

Idea management is the process of clarifying unprocessed creative concepts to the point of follow through and fulfillment.

Idea management, a term I coined for myself, elevates the value of creative concepts. It’s about clarifying raw ideas to the point of realization, ensuring they don’t vanish into the ether. Your ideas matter. However, how often to you act like they do?

Have you ever fallen in love with your idea, forgotten to write it down, then lost it later? Or how many times have you disregarded your idea before you even brainstormed it?

Maybe that isn’t you, per se. Maybe you are stuck in a cycle of beginning and quitting project after project because you fall prey to boredom or burnout.

Perhaps you’re stuck somewhere inbetween those two points, constantly researching as a way to protect yourself from really starting. Because you are afraid, or feel too disorganized to truly begin.

Idea management was the key for me overcoming all three of these scenarios.

Why Every Creative Needs Idea Management

Traditional time-management and organizational tools are primarily task-oriented. However, as a multipassionate creative, you are more idea-oriented. Idea management takes the best parts of these tools and reorients them for those of us who are more motivated by the idea itself then when it actually gets accomplished.

Every creative, whether you’re a painter, writer, musician, or hobbyist, needs a way to manage their ideas. At it’s core, Idea management helps you stay organized, focused, and motivated. It ensures that your best ideas don’t get lost in the chaos and that you have a clear path to bring them to life.

This next part is important.

Not every idea will be a home run, nor does every idea need to be finished. But your ideas matter and they deserve to be written down, explored, and tested. Just because you want to create does not guarantee that you will create anything at all.

Waiting around for motivation to hit or living from one inspirational high to another is one of the leading causes of creative ruts, overwhelm, burnout, and getting lost in the endless cycle of false starts. Valuing your ideas enough to learn how to preserve them is the kindest thing you can do for yourself and your art.

The Idea Crafting Wheel was my solution, and it might be yours as well. It’s a six phase flexible framework for multipassionates, hobbyist, and avid sidequesters. This framework is fun, interactive, and specifically designed for non-traditional timekeepers and organizers.

If you’re a sidequest enthusiast, then you know traditional time management and organization has failed many creatives like yourself. This framework takes that into account, allowing your creative process to be just that – a process. It’s not a formula and you can retrofit anything to fit your unique approach and artistic needs. 

I am sharing that framework over at my podcast, Sidequest of the Week, for the duration of this first season. I will also share the blog version of those episodes here, but for now, I’ll start with my own testimony.

How Idea Management Helped Me

Idea management is a powerful tool to generate your own motivation and consistency on all the creative projects you hold dear. I don’t need to dive much deeper into my backstory because I’m guessing you know it all too well.

But here is the rundown on how idea management, specifically this framework, has changed my creative process for the better:

It helps me value my ideas

Instead of trying to keep all the ideas floating around in my head, I value them enough to record them. This can be via voice memo, on my phone, texting myself, or physically writing it down. Regardless, it’s helped me remember that if I have an idea, I should value it. I never know if it is an answer to my own prayer or someone else, or a solution for someone I haven’t met. If it effects even one person, I believe it is worth it. 

I can sustain motivation

Motivation and inspiration are those things that are fickle. They come and go and waiting for it to hit me is unreliable. By implementing this sort of structure in my life, I actually generate a steadier stream of motivation that helps me work through resistance with more easy and consistency. 

I can see synchronicity between my ideas.

The Idea Crafting Wheel has helped me see more intersectionality between my ideas. Ideas that I thought “didn’t make sense” or random gifts, talents, or passions now seem to have a place. It brings everything together more cohesively. 

It hones my organization and time-management skills.

These have never been my strong suit. Mostly that was because I was working with traditional organization and time-management tools. These are generally created by already organized people for already organized people. Organization and time-management looks a lot different for me, but I finally have a better grasp on my time than ever before. 

It’s establishing my confidence.

I have much more confidence as a creative these days. I know when to say no. I’m able to share my “failures’ without shame. I am willing to admit the places that are a struggle for me. I’m quick to pivot when it feels right. And I celebrate my art and my wins constantly. 

How To Implement Idea Management

Once I began using a structured approach to capture, organize, and act on my ideas, everything changed. I became more productive, more focused, and more fulfilled in my creative work. And I think as I share this system with you through this season, it will do the same for you as well. 

I’ll be teaching you my flexible framework through this series, but here are a few things you can do now to get in a quick win.

Find a Way to Capture Your Ideas

The first step in effective idea management is ensuring that you have a reliable method for capturing your ideas as they come to you. Creative thoughts can be fleeting, often appearing at the most unexpected times—during a walk, in the shower, or even in the middle of the night. To ensure these sparks of inspiration don’t slip away, develop a rhythm that works best for you. 

Consider carrying a small notebook or using a note-taking app on your phone. Some people find voice memos particularly useful for capturing thoughts on the go. The key is consistency—make it a habit to record every idea, no matter how small or undeveloped it might seem. This practice will help you build a repository of creative concepts that you can revisit and refine later.

Figure Out Your Ideal Working Time

Every creative has their own rhythm and peak times for productivity. Identifying when you are most focused and energetic can significantly enhance your creative output. Pay attention to your natural energy cycles throughout the day. Are you a morning person who feels most productive at dawn, or do you find your best ideas come to you late at night?

For me, my brain shuts off around 3:00PM in the afternoon so if I want to get my best work done, I need to get up early. While society has elevated the morning as the idea schedule, this might not be the case for you. I have friends who have kids, and their best time is in the evening when everything is quiet. It doesn’t really matter when you create; but you need to identify when your brain is most clear for creative action. 

Experiment with different times and settings to discover when your creativity flows most freely. Once you’ve identified your ideal working time, try to dedicate this period to your most important creative tasks. Protect this time from distractions and routine chores, making it a sacred window for your art. By aligning your work with your natural rhythms, you’ll maximize your creative potential.

Identify Your Areas of Greatest Resistance

Understanding what hinders your creative process is just as important as knowing what fuels it. Resistance can come in many forms—procrastination, fear of failure, self-doubt, or external distractions. Take some time to reflect on what often stops you from moving forward with your ideas.

Once you’ve identified these barriers, you can develop strategies to overcome them. For instance, if you find yourself procrastinating, break your tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. If self-doubt is your issue, practice self-compassion and remind yourself of past successes. By recognizing and addressing these areas of resistance, you’ll be better equipped to navigate through creative blockages and maintain momentum in your projects.

In Conclusion

This is only the beginning.

If this is a new concept for you, it was for me as well. I can’t fit everything I’d like to say in one blog post, but I hope this acts as a launching point for you.

You don’t have to be a specialist to thrive as a creative. You don’t have to have a massive capacity or output for legitimize your creative practice. You can work a regular 9-5 and create on the side. There are no rules when it comes to your unique creative process.

But, every creative needs some sort of structure. Every creative needs to embrace idea management. Whether you choose to use my flexible framework or not, your ideas are valuable. You should write them down and give them the opportunity to see the light of day.

It’s okay to experiment. A lot.

If you have any questions, you are always welcome to DM me on all my socials! I look forward to talking with you more!