Feeling Down About Your Ideas? Read This.

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Excerpt: Inspired by a post on Reddit, read this to break free from the impossibly exhaustive thinking of originality and learn how to start remixing.

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Just because something has been done before doesn’t mean that it’s done with. In fact, Filmmaker Kirby Ferguson says that nothing is original and that our most celebrated creators actually steal ideas—and transform them into something new. He says that Everything Is A Remix.

When you look more closely at some of your favorite creations/ innovations, you’ll probably find just that—a reshuffling, a reorganizing, a reimagining, a reproducing, a retake of that which has already been “done.” Heck, that’s what the definition of innovation essentially is: to make changes in something already established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products.

The latest work of innovation that caught my attention? The Netflix Limited Series that follows orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon as she struggles with addiction in a quest to become the greatest chess player in the world—The Queen’s Gambit. Original? Nope. Based on the American novel that was published in 1983 by Walter Tevis. Remixed. And brilliantly so.

In fact, if you’re concerned that your idea has been done before and you’re feeling down about your ideas, consider some of these other prominent and noteworthy remixes in the entertainment world (originally shared on Reddit):

A small boy is adopted by a mean, abusive older couple. The boy discovers he’s in possession of magical powers. He’s taken away to a magical land where he makes a best friend, owns a pet companion, and discovers the existence of an evil man who poses a constant threat to all those around him. It’s the boys destiny to fight this evil man.

Harry Potter? No, “Mio, my boy.” 1954.

A prince’s uncle kills his father with intent to seize the throne and marry/bed the fathers wife. The story revolves around the prince and his revenge

The Lion King? No, “Hamlet.” 1601.

A group of juniors are forced to fight to the death by a nasty government.

The Hunger Games? No, “Battle Royale”. 1999.

A parent of two decides to sell drugs to support their family, becoming increasingly entangled with illegal activity as the series progresses.

Breaking Bad? No, “Weeds.” 2005.

Trying to think up something completely original is unnecessarily hard. It’s wastefully exhaustive. It’s wildly demoralizing. What’s better is to look at what’s already out there and think about how you can innovate instead. Imagine how you might take something already established and mix in new methods, ideas, or products—YOUR methods, ideas, and products.

Heck, look at this post that I’m sharing with you today! Originally inspired by a post on Reddit, I took the original examples that were shared (and removed the author’s interpretations), added in an example that was on the top of my mind (The Queen’s Gambit), wove Kirby Ferguson’s idea of “remixing” throughout the post (stolen) to bring everything together, and did it all with already established words that were simply organized by me.

While everything in this post has been essentially stolen from somewhere else, one thing is for sure: you won’t find this weirdly remixed concoction anywhere else on the internet. And THAT is exactly why people come here to read. It’s the remixes, the unique perspectives, the new human interpretations that they’re interested in—not the already established elements that have been “done” and shared elsewhere.

And remember, regardless of what you produce, the key is to ground yourself in the work itself and disassociate yourself from your ego. Focus on repeating/ reinforcing/ reinvesting in what went well and removing/ improving/ fixing what didn’t. Anything that distracts you from the work and that process (feeling like your ideas suck; feeling like everything great has already been produced; feeling like you should only produce stuff that’s 100% original) is absolutely holding you back.

Commit to and trust the process. By following the process again and again and producing work that’s more and more in alignment with your capabilities, aptitudes, potential, and interests—you’ll eventually remix what will amount to your life’s best work. Don’t let what’s already been “done” stop you from sharing that with us.

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