Here’s the truth: idea overload kills more creative dreams than lack of talent ever will.
So how do you actually choose which project deserves your attention? I use a simple three-part filter:
1. Impact – Which project has the greatest potential to make a difference? This could mean helping others, growing your audience, or advancing your career.
2. Excitement – Which project lights you up the most right now? Don’t underestimate momentum. If you’re genuinely excited, you’ll actually sit down and do the work.
3. Sustainability – Which project can you realistically sustain with your current time and resources? A 12-month film might not be doable—but a 12-week short story collection could be.
Take all your ideas, score them on these three categories (1–5 scale). The project with the highest total is the one to focus on.
For example, when I was undecided about starting a podcast, launching a blog, or designing a small product, I ran them through this filter. The blog scored highest—it had impact (sharing my ideas), excitement (I loved writing), and sustainability (I could write weekly without breaking the bank).
That choice became the foundation for everything else.
👉 Try this framework today. Write your top 3 ideas, score them, and see which rises to the top. Clarity often comes from structured reflection, not waiting for inspiration.
As always Brooke, you’re brilliant in your own right. Love this for you. 🤗
I love that excitement is one of the filters. Too often I downplay my job in favor of what I think I “should” do. With music I’ve debated between three ideas so I just scored them and I already have a clear winner. I’m going to use this filter moving forward in whatever creative projects I want to work on to see what deserves my energy first. Thank you for the valuable information Idris Elijah!