Eric Hotaling is Typing…

Why the Enter key is more powerful than the Delete key.

We've all seen it.

Either on our phones, in a chat, or in a virtual meeting - we've seen colleagues and friends begin to type a message only to be surprised when the "is typing" message goes away, but no new message enters the chat.

I've done this. I'm betting you have too.

The question, then, is a simple one: "Why?"

If you've had a thought that prompted you to lean forward towards your keyboard and you begin to articulate your thought in writing - why not share it?

Perhaps your idea is only half-baked.

Perhaps you decide against speaking up.

Perhaps you choose to, instead of sharing in a meeting, "take it offline".

But here's the rub: we don't get to great ideas right out of the gates. The path to great ideas is littered with lots of brainstorming, ideation, and, yes, a mountain of "bad ideas" and half-baked thoughts.

So when you don't finish typing that message, or when you decide to press "backspace" instead of "enter" - you're withholding an idea or a thought that, while not perfect in itself, might spark the next great one.

I'd challenge you to speak up, share your ideas, and hit "enter". It might just be the thing that gets you one step closer to a great idea.

Thanks for spending time with me in my workshop,

Eric