The Five Levels of an Idea: From Spark to Stage
🎙 INTRO
“Welcome to the show! I’m James Taylor, keynote speaker on creativity, innovation, and artificial intelligence, and in today’s episode, I want to take you behind the scenes of how an idea develops—from that first flicker of inspiration to the moment it’s ready for the world. Last week I was speaking in Manila in the Philippines at a Leadership Summit for SM Supermalls, the owners and operators of 95 shopping malls in the Philippines and China. In that speech I shared a story and concept to help the leaders in the room implement Artificial Intelligence in the organisation. In today’s episode I’d like to take you through the process of how that story was created. From spark to stage.
Because here’s the thing… ideas don’t arrive fully formed. They go through layers, stages—what I like to call ‘The Five Levels of an Idea.’ And if you want to be a more effective creator, innovator, or leader, understanding these levels will help you shape your best ideas before sharing them with the world.”
Level 5: The Sacred Space – Where Ideas Begin
“Every great idea starts in the quiet. Before the brainstorming sessions, before the conversations, before the keynote stage, there’s a moment of stillness where an idea first appears.
I like to think of this as Level 5—the sacred space.
For me, it often happens while I’m on a flight, going for a walk, or in the early hours of the morning when my mind is clear. It’s that deep, personal moment where something clicks, and I think, ‘Hmm, there’s something here.’
Now, most ideas never make it past this stage. And that’s okay! Not every idea needs to be shared. But the ones that do? They start their journey here, below the choppy waves of daily distractions.”
Level 4: Testing the Waters – Conversations in Safe Spaces
“Once an idea has sat with me for a while, I take it to Level 4—the inner circle.
This is where I share it with just one or two people I trust—maybe my partner, a close friend, or a mentor. It’s a safe space where I can explore the idea without judgment, refine my thinking, and start shaping it into something more tangible.
For example, a few months ago, I had this spark of an idea around exnovation vs. innovation—the idea that sometimes, the best way to innovate is to actively stop doing certain things. It was just a passing thought at first, but I mentioned it to my wife, and we talked about it over coffee. She asked me some great questions, which helped me see angles I hadn’t considered before.”
Level 3: Social Testing – The Dinner Party Effect
“Once an idea has been refined in private conversations, it’s ready for Level 3—the social test.
This is where I bring it up in a casual setting, like a dinner party, a mastermind group, or a conversation with fellow speakers and creatives. It’s a way of testing the waters with a slightly broader audience.
A few weeks after first thinking about exnovation, I mentioned it over dinner with friends. Some of them immediately latched onto it, adding their own thoughts and stories, while others weren’t as convinced. And that’s exactly what I wanted! Their reactions helped me sharpen the concept, making it clearer and more compelling.”
Level 2: Public Experimentation – Videos, Posts, and Short-Form Content
“By this stage, the idea has been shaped and refined through different conversations, and I’m ready to take it to Level 2—the public experiment.
This is where I test the idea in a more structured way—maybe in a short video, a blog post, or a social media post.
In this case, I filmed a quick video about exnovation while I was on the road. Nothing fancy, just a way to put the idea out there and see how it resonated. And sure enough, the comments and feedback helped me refine it even further.”
Level 1: The Big Stage – Ready for the World
“Finally, an idea reaches Level 1—the stage.
By now, the idea has been stress-tested, refined, and packaged into something strong enough to stand on its own. This is where it becomes a full keynote story, a published article, or part of a book.
Last week, I was speaking in Manila, Philippines, and I included the exnovation concept in my keynote. It had evolved from a vague thought into a fully developed two-minute story that resonated with the audience. It got laughs, nods of recognition, and follow-up questions afterward—all signs that the idea had landed.”
Why This Process Matters
“Now, why does this matter?
Because too often, people rush to share their ideas at Level 1 before they’ve gone through the deeper levels of refinement. They post half-baked thoughts online, pitch untested concepts in meetings, or launch ideas before they’re ready.
Great ideas need time to develop. They need to go through these levels to become their best versions.
So, next time you have an idea, ask yourself:
- Is it still in Level 5, the sacred space? If so, give it time.
- Who can I share it with at Level 4 to refine it?
- How can I test it socially at Level 3?
- Can I experiment with it at Level 2 before taking it to the world?
By following these steps, you’ll not only develop stronger ideas but also increase your chances of real impact when you finally bring them to life.”
🎙 OUTRO
“That’s it for today’s episode. If you found this useful, do me a favor—share it with someone who’s working on an idea right now. And if you want more insights on creativity, innovation, and AI, make sure to subscribe and check out my latest speaking topics at jamestaylor.me.
Until next time, stay creative!”
