P12: The Power of Crazy Ideas: Why Your Next Pivot Might Seem Unreasonable

Today’s Pivot: Embrace the Power of a Crazy Idea

My entire trajectory has been a series of crazy ideas, and this week reminded me why they matter.

As I write this issue, I’m attending IMSH2525, an enormous annual meeting that brings together leaders, learners, and pioneers in healthcare simulation worldwide. There’s something about getting on a plane and immersing myself in a community of innovators that always sparks my reflective and creative juices.

The week began with a conversation with my friend Lisa and this EGR Reflection:

Then came Kyle Scheele’s Keynote.

If you aren’t familiar with Scheele, he’s what you’d get if a comedian, a dreamer, and a mad scientist decided to share a brain. He’s a hilarious grown-up kid who’s turned his knack for outlandish ideas into viral successes—like editing a goofy family photo his dad has hated for 30 years, posting it on TikTok, and gaining 1 million followers in just 25 hours. And somehow, he pulls it all off in a two-piece suit while leaving his audience both inspired and in stitches.

Scheele’s message on the power of nurturing crazy ideas makes me think about how often our high or harsh expectations—of ourselves and others—prevent us from pursuing or encouraging the “crazy” ideas that could change everything. For example, the once-radical concept of training medical students through simulation is now a cornerstone of how medical professionals save lives.

Too often, we fail to give our own ideas—or those of our children, spouses, colleagues, or team members—the EGR (Extra Grace Required) they deserve. Instead, we shut them down before they even have a chance to grow.

Scheele offered five essential steps for individuals and leaders to bring ideas to life, reminding us that they are fragile and need nurturing.

1. Ideas Need a Chance

We often convince ourselves that we’re not creative or that our ideas aren’t good enough. But creativity is not a special gift reserved for a few—it’s a natural human trait. The first step is believing in your ability to generate ideas and allowing them to exist.

Takeaway for Leaders: Create a culture where ideas are welcomed, no matter how unconventional they seem. Encourage your team to share freely and celebrate the act of contributing as much as the content of the ideas themselves.

2. Ideas Need a Home

A fleeting thought can vanish as quickly as it appears. Give your ideas a place to live, whether it’s a notebook, a Google Doc, or your phone’s notes app. By capturing them, you can revisit and develop them further.

Takeaway for Leaders: Provide your team with transparent processes or platforms to capture ideas. Whether it’s a shared document, an internal tool, or even a physical suggestion box, ensure ideas have a home within your organization.

3. Ideas Need a Time and Place

Waiting for the “perfect moment” is a trap. There’s no such thing. Start where you are, with what you have. The best time to begin is now, and the best place is here.

Takeaway for Leaders: Encourage experimentation and action. Show your team that good enough is better than perfect and that waiting for perfection often means missed opportunities.

4. Ideas Need a Bodyguard

When ideas are in their infancy, they’re vulnerable to criticism and doubt. Protect your ideas from the naysayers until they’re strong enough to withstand scrutiny. Be your idea’s fiercest advocate.

Takeaway for Leaders: Foster psychological safety by shielding early-stage ideas from harsh judgment. Set boundaries for when constructive critique is appropriate, and focus on building confidence in your team’s creativity.

5. Ideas Need a Team

No one achieves success alone. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and can help you build it. Collaboration transforms good ideas into extraordinary outcomes.

Takeaway for Leaders: Encourage cross-functional collaboration and show your team that the best ideas often emerge from diverse perspectives. Actively involve others in bringing ideas to life.

Kyle’s story and message remind us that progress doesn’t come from reasonable ideas but from bold pivots and daring to believe in what might seem unreasonable.

As I reflect on that EGR reflection, it strikes me how much grace is required for us and the people we lead and love.

Cutting ourselves and others some slack creates the room for ideas to breathe and grow. Maybe today is the day to extend that grace and give a “crazy” idea a chance.

Pivot Challenge

• What’s the “crazy” idea you’ve been holding onto? Does it need a chance to breathe, a home to live in, or a little protection from criticism—maybe even your own?

• Think about the ideas shared by your children, spouse, or team members. How can you create space for them to grow?

Challenge yourself to take one idea—yours or someone else’s—and nurture it further. You never know what doors it might open.

What’s the “crazy” idea you’ve been holding onto? I’d love to hear about it. Just hit reply and tell me about it.

With love,

Maria Keckler, Ph.D.
Author of Bridge Builders: How Superb Communicators Get What They Want
Creator of the Just One Pivot Letter
Founder of Keckler and Co.