Protect Your Spark: Beat the Idea Assassins
By Derek Neighbors on April 1, 2025
Picture this: You pitch a bold idea. Silence—then one voice rips it apart. It’s not feedback—it’s a creativity hit job, murdering your momentum.
Your best ideas? Dead. Slayed by the too-early, too-loud, too-scared crew.
Creativity Is a Posture
Great creatives don’t wait for a whiteboard invite—they carry possibility everywhere, fueled by what could be, not what’s proven. They don’t just have ideas—they are ideas in motion.
Creativity is fragile—guard it, and it becomes a force.
Think Pixar dreaming up Toy Story while suits scoffed—no approval needed.
Meet the Spark Assassins
Meet the spark assassins—accidental pros at killing your vibe:
- They ‘Yeah, but…’ your vibe dead
- They need a GPS for the wild unknown
- They call it realism—it’s just fear in a cheap suit
- They obsess over risk, blind to reward
- They only show up to poke holes, not build bridges
Their drag doesn’t just slow you down—it reroutes the team. Suddenly, you’re building for the critic, not the vision.
Hold the Line
Pick your crew like it’s sacred—some don’t deserve your spark.
Turn the room into your dojo—dodge friction, keep the flow.
Call the mode: “We’re exploring, not editing.”
Smack critics: “Nice. Your idea?” They’ll squirm.
Build With the Bold
Build with the bold—teammates who fling ideas like confetti, spark your genius, dig for gold in your words, and hit like espresso shots.
Drop the drainers passing burnout as teamwork.
Try This Now
Next meeting, drop: “Build first. Break later.” Watch friction choke.
Guard the Fire
Your spark could change everything—don’t let doubt kill it.
Guard it. Fight for it. Roll with the brave. Critics? Dust.
