OIA has one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world and a hidden secret🌞💡
Well, not necessarily in the world, but clearly in Europe, and most certainly in Greece. Surprisingly, OIA also stands for the acronym: One Idea Away.
Greece is magical because of its sea, sun, food, people and history obviously. The reflection of the sun on those blue and white houses as the heat rises and the cold wine flows has no equal. Whilst the country is made of hundreds of stunning islands, Santorini is special. Its horseshoe shape, its caldera and its black sand beaches make this volcanic island iconic.
A few years ago, I went there for holiday with my then girlfriend (and so did all the couples in the galaxy it seemed!). Actually, the holiday almost did not happen as the pilot couldn’t land because of the wind. Yep, the island is famous for this too! Once we landed and the discovery got underway, we headed to Oia: a little village at the north tip of the island. Oia’s position is particularly wonderful as it gives a beautiful view of the sunset. And…annoyingly you think you will be alone with your loved one a romantic sunset, but all the couples in the galaxy had the same plan! Ahah…
Today I am excited to share the “One Idea Away” concept. I remember those white windmills, and feel compelled to share to help you escape from what has been a no-travel year for most.
One Idea Away is an immensely powerful concept.
Is it the first thought that will ignite the desire to build, grow, climb or achieve?
Is it the alternative thought or question that will flip everything on its head?
Is it the last idea, the last step when you are ready to give up?
Is it turning a negative thought into a positive one or at least shushing the negativity?
It is probably all those together as it is this simple element between where you are and where you want to go.
The first thought
The average person has on average 6,200 individual thoughts every day. Many are repetitions of old ones but how many of those could be the starting point of something new? The idea for a book or a song to write, a concept you want to bring to life, a trip you want to do, an old friend you want to call...
So what if you were One Idea Away from your first The New York Times bestseller, a Grammy award or finding the love of your life?
The 180 thought
Nothing works. You have your back to the wall. No apparent solutions in front. It could be at work, personally or in your hobbies. How you see the world is shaped by your stories and belief which then turn into thoughts. You face the infamous closed loop thinking. We all know it too well. But if a miracle could happen what could it bring? How could it change the solution? So what if you were One Idea Away from making this narrowing grey dead end into an expanding beautiful summer road?
The last thought
When you think you are done! You gave your all, and you’re still not there. You stop or at least want to…without realising that you are 5 cm away from a quantum leap change. Something that would change everything and would make the hard work you put in so far worthwhile. Think of Thomas Edison and his 10,000 attempts at the light bulb. So what if you were One Idea Away to conclude this deal, to close the budget for the business or to get that invention over the line?
Countering negative thoughts
We have 4 negative thoughts for 1 positive one, and negative thoughts have a 7 to 1 leverage on positive ones. We could argue the number, but I am sure you will agree that negative thoughts have a stronger weight in the way we think. So what if, you were One Idea Away, by eliminating one negative thought?
Let me leave you with this story.
The elevator at the Alcortez hotel in San Diego couldn’t handle the human traffic. The experts, engineers and architects, were called in. Well-trained and educated, they concluded that they could in fact put another elevator in the hotel by cutting a hole in each floor, installing the motor for the new elevator in the basement. Plans were drawn up, everything was in order, the permits were executed, contracts were signed.
On the day the construction was supposed to begin the architects and engineers came in the lobby. The janitor, who was there with his mop, heard them saying they were about to cut holes in the floor, and said:
“What are you gonna do? This is going to make a big mess!”
“Of course, but we will get help for you to clean, don’t worry,” replied the engineers.
The janitor complained, “You will have to close the entire hotel if you have to do that.”
“Well, if we have to close the hotel for a week or two, we have to. We cannot possibly survive without another elevator,” said the engineers.
The janitor held the mop in his hand and said, “You know what I would do if I were you?”
Arrogantly the architects said, “What would you do?”
The janitor said, “I would build the elevator on the outside!”
The architects and engineers looked at each other bemused. They built the elevator on the outside. The first time in the history of architecture an elevator was built outside of a hotel!
QUESTION…
How could you create supportive, forward-looking and constructive ideas?