Have you ever had a crazy idea? Easy right? Of course you have. I remember a time when I was probably 10 years old a few of my friends and I wanted to start a business. Well, we actually wanted to have money and since we were too young to get actual jobs, starting a business seemed to be the most direct path. After deciding that mowing lawns was too hard, raking leaves was too hard, and washing cars was too hard, we decided our best bet was to invent a new product. 

We started looking around for anything we could find that would spark an idea and eventually, we found a bunch of flammable liquids. After mixing them together we discovered that they were indeed, still quite flammable. We had it, the greatest lighter fluid ever invented. we called it, Lighting Lighter Fluid. Got something that isn’t on fire that should be? Try lightning lighter fluid!

Immediately, we went to my next door neighbor’s house. He was an older man who was always working on projects around his house. Surely he could use some of this lightning in a bottle. We gave him our best sales pitch and waited for him to purchase all we had. Immediately he responded, “Go home and put that gasoline away or I’m going to call your father.” After a brief and unsuccessful attempt to educate him on the difference between lightning lighter fluid and gasoline, we decided our best bet was to pack it up and avoid our dads getting involved. 

So I went home with our entire stock of lightning lighter fluid. I didn’t know anything about the proper disposal of chemicals so I decided to do some more testing. To make a long story short, I ended up catching my toes on fire. That ended my time in the lighter fluid business. Thankfully, I still have all of may digits and there was no permanent damage. Here’s what I learned… 

1. My friends and I basically invented direct sales. We were unfortunately way ahead of our time. 
2. The greatest innovations are often misunderstood. I mean, this lighter fluid was very effective. 
3. I’m really lucky we didn’t seriously hurt ourselves. 

Back then, I could have gotten into a lot of trouble if there weren’t people in my life like that next door neighbor. We all need people who will threaten to call our parents if we don’t stop doing stupid stuff. Like my friends and me, our first natural instinct is to say, “You clearly don’t understand what i’ve created here!” and bush back. Thankfully the wisdom of my neighbor finally won out. We need to be dreaming big and coming up with new and fantastic ideas. But we also need to allow wisdom to have a seat at the table. Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams but stay away from setting your toes on fire. 

Who is the voice of wisdom in your life?