No idea is original. None. Whatever you’re thinking of, someone else is also thinking of it.

Inventions are original ideas. Think the lightbulb, the disposable razor, and the game of basketball.

But we’re not talking about inventions…

We’re talking about innovation. Innovation is the improvement of original ideas. And you, me, those in the back, in the middle, and in the front all have the same ideas.

Let me illustrate…

In 2004, I had a “rent your home’s parking spot” idea…

I was going to build a website where those who had spare parking spots at their home or condo could rent the space for a few hours to those who needed them.

I was thinking about homeowners near colleges and universities, and those who owned condos near sporting arenas in the downtown core.

Let’s just say I did nothing with the idea…

Imagine my surprise when in 2016, I saw an ad in my Facebook newsfeed for a rent your parking spot app…

My sister saw it too. When we spoke by phone, she said:

Didn’t you have that idea about 10-years ago?”

I did. But unlike the makers of this new app, I did nothing with the idea. I thought it up, I uttered it out loud, I even looked into whether or not it already existed, then did nothing more with the idea.

As King Solomon says, there is nothing new under the sun…

Ever wonder why a domain name you think is totally awesome is already registered? It’s because you and that person came up with the same idea.

Chances are, you have an idea swimming around in your head. And chances are, eight other people have the very same idea. You haven’t met them and they haven’t met you, but you’re thinking the same way.

Your idea may not be original, but it is an idea. What you need to do is take action on one of your ideas. That’s innovation.

If you still think you don’t have an original idea, lean into your anger…

Anger has been used as a negative – and it can be if you hold on to it, and let it fester, and let it lead to feelings of revenge. 

Also, anger is such a mishandled and misunderstood emotion that it’s used as a weapon to silence someone’s passion. Being called angry is meant to dismiss your advocacy and activism around an item or cause you’re passionate about.

But righteous anger can be used as a force of change…

History’s greatest movements were ignited by anger. The Klu Klux Klan of the 1860s, Nazism of the 1930s, the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the Front de libération du Québec of the 1960s, Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement of the early 2010s.

Anger isn’t just relegated to socio-economic movements; anger applies to brands and companies too…

• Someone got angry that it takes too long to mop floors; Swiffer was created

• Someone got angry that there were too many CDs to haul around; the iPod was invented

• Someone got angry that they couldn’t enjoy splashing in the pool without sinking to the bottom; the pool noodle was introduced

• Someone got angry that computers didn’t fit the way creatives needed to create; the Mac was created

I could on…

Your anger is the best source of original ideas…

Whatever frustrates you is where your innovation lies. Anger and frustration leads to curiosity and curiosity leads to one asking meaningful questions:

• “Why do I feel this way?”
• “Why do I always follow this path?”
• “Do others feel this way too?”
• “How I help solve this collective problem?”

Lean into your anger.