Know when to champion ideas
The value of a new idea is not always obvious. It's not easy to take that first leap of faith to support something novel.
Great ideas often defy convention and require an idea champion — an advocate who pushes the idea forward, iterates, and rallies support, often without initial buy-in s or resources.
Idea champions are more willing to write their first novel, pursue a side project, or build a new business without any funding.
The key is knowing when to champion an idea. When is it worth it? A few deciding factors can help you make quick decisions on when to pursue a creative project and when to put it on a shelf and return to it later. But first, let’s talk about Broadway.
Everyone thought it was crazy
The greatest Broadway show I’ve ever seen is Hamilton. By a big margin.
Nicole heard about the show early on before it hit Broadway and we got to see it before it skyrocketed into the cultural stratosphere (and ticket prices didn’t require the budget of a small country).
5 minutes into the show I leaned over and told Nicole it was the best show I’d ever seen.
Also, Hamilton is the only live show that’s ever made me cry. The ending is wonderfully poignant and intense.
Since it launched, Hamilton’s global revenue is estimated at over $1 billion. It won 11 Tonys, received a Pulitzer Prize, and is even credited with keeping Hamilton’s portrait on the $10 bill. The play’s success is undeniable.
Making a musical about Alexander Hamilton was a great idea. But, if you go back to the beginning when Lin-Manuel Miranda initially had the idea for Hamilton, no one else saw his vision.
When Ron Chernov, the author of the Alexander Hamilton biography, was initially pitched the idea for the Broadway show, he didn’t quite get it. A musical about Hamilton? He laughs when he remembers early responses from his friends.
“Everybody, and I mean everybody, who wasn’t directly involved in the production thought the whole thing was just crazy… I would tell people about it, ‘Well, it’s a hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton,’ and people would just look at me like I was insane. It must have been quite worrying for Lin, especially in the early years… It was just so implausible!”
It took Miranda seven years to develop Hamilton from the initial idea (that came to him on vacation in Mexico) to its Broadway debut in New York City.
The longer Miranda worked on Hamilton, the more people he won over. But in the early days, Miranda had to be the sole idea champion. It took him two years just to perfect the opening song.
The “crazy idea” of a hip-hop musical about a founding father wasn’t so crazy to Miranda. He carried the torch and made history.
The idea champion rubric
How did Miranda know Hamilton would be a hit? How did he have the confidence to champion this new idea?
When you’re trying to decide if an idea is worth championing, look to Hamilton for the three factors you want to consider.
Unique Insight
Do you have access to a unique insight through extensive research, deep personal expertise, or some other unique point-of-view? Miranda had Chernov’s biography and his clear passion for the topic.Significant Impact
Does your idea bridge a clear gap in the market, offer a scalable impact, or align with recent trends uniquely? Hamilton celebrated American history in a modern way and deeply connected with audiences.Personal Joy
Does the idea bring you joy, make you happy to work on, and keep you motivated? Miranda’s passion and talent for storytelling is palpable throughout the play.
Consider each of these factors. If you can answer yes to at least two of the three, you should feel comfortable championing the idea.
The last one, personal joy, is also the most important. If an idea does not bring you joy, you simply won’t make as much progress. You won’t have the energy to see it through (or it will completely drain you). For me, that’s increasingly a deal breaker.
We love underdog stories, and idea champions are often the underdogs. The idea champion is creating something new and going it alone, especially in the beginning. Because no one believes in them.
The goal is to work on creative projects that you love, even when no one else sees your vision. Lean into your offbeat ideas, find the ones you can defend, and be your own idea champion.
PS. I’m building a creativity workshop — more details coming soon! Add your name to the waitlist and be first to know when it launches.