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Hey Reader,

Standing under the nipple-shatteringly cold shower water, looking at the goosebumps rising around the scars on my arm, it hit me: this cold water craze is basically socially acceptable self-harm.

Nobody can see your pain, it doesn’t leave visible scars, and you get to join the cool alpha-dude-bro 5am kale club.

Yeah I know, I read all the science and speculation and it does seem like there are plenty of health benefits but still. It’s deeply unpleasant and I’m doing it to myself voluntarily.

^^

This is what happens when you layer your take on things onto an idea that is not (necessarily) unique.

I’m being silly, and this is a concept I’m messing with for my stand-up set, but my point is: two of my life experiences collided in that somewhat ridiculous (but not entirely untrue) idea about ice baths being self-harm.

I’m telling you this because one of the questions asked in a workshop I was in yesterday was this:

“What if my idea isn’t unique?”

Answer: it’s almost certainly not. And that doesn’t matter.

The workshop was about creating and pitching a TEDx talk (as part of Sophie Lee’s spectacular Brilliant program) and it’s the same question I get as a book coach all the time.

Everyone is worried their idea isn’t unique, but they’re missing the point.

Unless we’re on the kind of research teams that are grafting thumbs onto mice or putting the self-obsessed on desert islands, removing their clothes, and being surprised when they behave like absolute flannels, our ideas are unlikely to be brand new.

For most of us, that’s fine — because the important part isn’t just the idea itself. We could google that.

The bit we’re really interested in is your take on it.

Humans are really bloody good at making weird and interesting connections.

Like when I got to thinking about ice baths and cold showers the other day.

Would someone else have come up with it?

Maybe. Perhaps they have and it’s out there somewhere but I’ve not seen it. And even if they did, it won’t have my life layers underneath it.

Your idea, the one you’re sitting on because you’re worried it’s not interesting or unique enough? Let go of your need to be a special snowflake and allow yourself to play with the idea itself. Build a narrative around it that only you could build.

THAT’S how you create that snowflake.

If you’re thinking of writing a book, or pitching an article, or creating a workshop, or building a TEDx Talk, but you’re not doing it — let there be one fewer reason standing in your way.

“Unique” is not the point.

We don’t just want your idea. We want the story behind it and the connections you make, and that’s what’s unique.

So, with nothing but love, get the fck on with it.

TTFN,

Vicky 🫡

p.s. If you’re not writing the book you want to be writing, I may be able to help you with that. I’m running a masterclass soon to help you kickstart it — if you want to get on the waiting list and be the first to know, click here.

p.p.s. Know someone who might enjoy this email? Please forward it to them and get them to sign up here.