I was writing a novel, based on a germ of an idea I’d read in a magazine. Unfortunately, I’m a slow writer and the idea I’d based it on was made into a film before I was anywhere near finished.

I think we need to move a little faster when we get these great ideas.

@ Dan, not so much regret, just momentarily pissed off. I generally, don’t do regret, just learn, apologize, if necessary, and move forward…most of the time

Plus, then I kind of laughed about it and, oddly, felt validated that someone else had put a ton of money into something I’d thought up, too.

@ Jaime – oh great, so now I find out, I actually stole that idea from Jaime!

@ Annedien – Love the silent audio CD idea, it’s a bit like that book “Everything Men Know About Women,” that’s like 200 pages…all blank. And, thanks for the reference to Rupert Sheldrake, I’ll have to check him out.

@ Kris – Totally agree, this happens to me with my writing, too, all the time. And, the funny thing is, when I cross something off my list after someone else have covered it substantially the same way I’d have, I almost feel relieved.

As a writer, I’ve run into the same situation countless times. I come up with what I think is a terrific story idea, I start making notes and doing research and get ready to write the book, and then I stumble on another novel with the same storyline. I’ve written screenplays and put together television pitch packages only to see the same concept turn up in someone else’s movie or television show that year before I’ve even had a chance to send my scripts out to anyone.

It sometimes makes me wonder if we’re all drawing our ideas from a shared creative source. Or perhaps it’s simply that we’re all exposed to the same trials and tribulations that come with being human. There is, after all, a reason why the myths created by cultures on opposite sides of the planet have the same exact themes.

But, as Scott pointed out, the ideas keep coming but it’s what you do with them that counts. It’s the people who take action toward making their ideas a reality who reap the rewards. Unfortunately, as you’ve already recognized, one person can only do so much at a time. I come up with ideas faster than I can write books or screenplays about them. At this point, I’ve resorted to keeping a file named Story Ideas on my computer where I put brief notes about any ideas that hit me while I’m in the middle of another writing project. The file gets longer and longer every day, though I occasionally get to delete some notes when someone else comes up with the same idea and beats me to the market with it.

I can totally relate to your story, and considering things like that to me are ways to point out where I still have ego issues (because…what’s the “I” that feels as if something has been stolen, or somebody will get more, gets richer, has more energy, et cetera?) is my way to grow and learn from them. There’s enough to go around.

Also, thoughs and ideas may be much more non-local and thus not bounded by a brain (and ‘owned’ by a person) than we have believed to be the case. The ideas of Rupert Sheldrake (morphic fields) and findings in quantum mechanics support this notion. Just as some believe we tap energy and love from the universe and pass it on instead of generate it, we may tap ideas, intelligence and creativity from it. So…for the well to identify with what it is just the source of, not the creator, can be somewhat of a problem

On the other hand, I’m not a total giver-away of my creative energy, so I do channel it in some cases and put a price on it. Making a living can be good fun in this world! (In my case I do so as an identity designer and business consultant)

It has been researched that *thinking* about working out will also enhance your health and muscles, maybe you can record an audio book that helps people work out in their heads It’s totally silent! (SilentWorkout, NoSweat, INC.)

Once again you offer a powerful anecdote which illustrates the power of regret, as well as the potential upside of acting on one’s beliefs and ideas. Kudos and thanks.

Now if I can only work fast enough to get the idea I’ve had going out the door and no longer lingering in my head.

I’ll be sure to let you know if there’s any success there. In the meantime, I’ll look forward to more of your articles.

@ Michael – I like the idea of giving it away, too. It’s a good karma move. I think, for me, it’s not so much giving up the potential payday, but the ego involvement in seeing it done the way I’d want it done. Even though, it’s very possible someobody else could do it far better!

@ Scott – Absolutely. The reward goes to those who put in the often massive effort to bring something from concept to reality. If it was so easy, everybody would do it and the value would be significantly lower.

@ Communicatrix – Interesting questions about throwing up a photo on a how-to website. I actually had no knowledge of this other product, but what I created was so close to the commercial version, I wonder what kind of intellectual property law wrangling would arise by even sharing how to make my version to a mass market for free. I was a securities lawyer in my past life, but I’m not up to speed on IP law. Hmmm… Anyone have an answer?

@ Hayden – man, you invented the Whatchamacallit bar…too?! I hear ya, but like Scott said above, if it was easy to push something all the way through to fruition, there’d be a ton more people doing it and the value just wouldn’t be the same.

I guess the message is, if you believe, then act!