Why frameworks beat fractured ideas, every time
aka why your ideas need structure to be memorable and scalable
Welcome to Creative Constructs, a newsletter that shares systems, tools, and strategies for creative thinkers. (Here’s what Creative Constructs is all about.)
There’s an age of debate about which is more important: Ideas or Execution.
If you’re thinking all the time, and not doing, you won’t get much done.
If you’re doing all the time, without thinking, you won’t get the right things done.
To be an effective creator (or an effective anything, really) you need a balance of good ideas and the action that brings them to life.
Makes sense.
Balance is great and all, but there’s one aspect of this debate that I don’t think we’ve talked enough about, and that’s the quality of the execution of your ideas.
It’s not just about taking action on your ideas, but about taking effective action. Even the best ideas, presented or communicated poorly, can’t reach their full potential.
And I’d argue that some of the most effectively communicated ideas are delivered as a framework with a strategically chosen structure that makes them easier to understand, take action on, and share.
I could try to give a whole spiel about how humans have different biological drives and how those drives are prioritized based differently at any moment based on our current reality and which other needs are being met (or not). But it would be a lot more effective if I just referenced “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.”
I could launch into a big philosophical discussion to try to explain how it’s often a small portion of our efforts that yield the biggest results. Or I can mention “The 80/20 Rule” (also known as “The Pareto Principle.”)
The Food Pyramid gives us a quick and easy way to remember which foods we need more of than others, and most os us use PEMDAS to recall the algebraic order of operations. (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. She knows not what she does.)
And, of course, we all know that “i” comes before “e,” except after “c,” or when sounding like “a” as in “neighbor” and “weigh.” (I may have recited this rhyme to myself when I mentioned Maslow’s HIErarchy earlier.)
Why Frameworks Beat Fractured Ideas, Every Time
The thing is, no matter how great your ideas are, their impact is limited by how memorable, ownable, and brandable they are.
If your ideas aren’t structured well, they aren’t likely to be well understood, but they also aren’t likely to be remembered. If they miss steps in your process or forget one of the key requirements you lay out, they’re not going to see the results you promise.
If people can’t remember your ideas, they certainly can’t associate those ideas with you in a way that makes the ideas uniquely yours. They can’t call on you when they need help with that one thing you’re so good at. They can’t refer business your way, or suggest you as a speaker, or recommend your book.
And if your ideas can’t be associated with you in a way that supports your business, then it becomes really hard to build a business and a brand around them. “Sorry Mister… what is it… Maslow? Yeah, we can see you’re passionate about your idea, but the session description you submitted was far too long, and our attendees won’t read all that. We’ll pass, but you can apply to speak again next year.”
Whether it’s a visual model like Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs or the Food Pyramid, an acronym like ROYGBIV and PEMDAS, or some other mnemonic or named phenomenon, ideas presented with intentional structure just stick better.
I’ve been beating this drum for years in my workshops, and some of the most satisfying work I get to do is the 1:1 sessions where I help creators, coaches, consultants, authors, and speakers turn their disparate ideas into a clear and proprietary framework they can build their business and brand around.
In these Framework Accelerator sessions, we refine and strategically organize your strongest ideas into a proprietary and branded framework, so the resulting model can be used as:
The structure or outline of a book
The basis of a keynote or workshop
The process that powers your consulting
The approach you use in your coaching
The system you teach in a unique course
The brand you can build your reputation on
If you’ve got a pile of powerful ideas waiting for the right structure to bring your business to the next level, you can book a Framework Accelerator session so we can work it out and get it structured together!
How to Turn Your Ideas into IP
Big Idea Brain Dump: The first step is to get really clear on what your ideas even are. What is it you’re trying to model out? what are the things you teach often, or the things only you know how to do? Get those ideas down on paper and try to refine that list until you’re looking at just your most important and promising key ideas. These are the ones you can try to turn into a proprietary model.
Reflect on the Relationships: The next step is to try to discern how those key ideas on your paper relate to one another. Do they need to come in a specific order? Are they equally important or weighted?
Determine How People Will Use It: A framework is only as useful as it is, well… useful. Get clear on how you imagine people will be making use of the framework you create, as that will likely determine the final shape it takes. Is it something you move through, move up, plot yourself on, continuously use, assess yourself with, or something else entirely?
Build The Brand: Only after you have all the above figured out should you worry about what to call the thing. A lot of folks start here, falling in love with a cute acronym or a catchy name and then forcing their ideas into it. (“You know what sounds good? ‘The Deziel Dichotomy.’ Yeah! Let me manufacture two tensions I can brand this way…”) Don’t fall for this trap. Get your ideas ironed out, and THEN build a brand around the foundation of a solid framework.
Creative Sparks:
“The 3 Systems Every Author Needs (And How to Set Them Up)” from
at . Chelle does a fantastic job at breaking down the PARA system for keeping your ideas (and your life) organized.“The secret architecture of great essays,” from
of . The first part of this is heavy on the architecture, but don’t let that fool you! This piece has some great reflections and tactical tips on the underlying structure of great writing, and the various elements that contribute to it. Be prepared, though, you’re likely going to want to keep reading more of Michael’s writing once you get to the end of this piece!“13 no-pressure creative outlets for perfectionists,” from
at . This particular quote really struck me: “.You don’t have to make things that are useful, or beautiful, or understandable. And your stuff definitely doesn’t have to be perfect. Creating is a human right that you were born with.”“Shouting Into The Void: On Creating Without An Audience,” from
of . This is a great reflection on the rewards of creating vs you creations being praised, with the added bonus of an inside look at a few of Brittany’s creative projects, including a Poem of the Month club (How cool is that?!)
More From Me:
Did You Know: I LOVE joining podcasts as a guest speaker. (I did two interviews this week!) If you’ve got a podcast I might make a good guest for, reach out.
On The Road:
I’m headed to Dallas for a dental industry event this week, and I’ll also be the opening keynote at Experience Inbound May 19th in Green Bay and May 20th in Milwuakee.
The Creative Constructs newsletter is a labor of love supported by paid subscribers and occasional affiliate links, which offer me a small commission on sales of products I already love and would recommend anyway. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Thank you for the shoutout in this super intriguing and well-written post! ✨