There’s something special about experiencing a eureka moment’, that moment we get a breakthrough idea. Archimedes’ bath time exclamation has become the byword for innovation. But it doesn’t necessarily tell the full story.
That initial idea plays an important role in either kickstarting the creative process or propelling us past mental blocks and challenges. It will provide a burst of energy that sets us on our way. That, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the idea will be successful or that the energy will last.
Most innovations don’t take place overnight. In many cases, the journey from breakthrough to launch can be very long. While the story of Archimedes suggests that he made hi…
There’s something special about experiencing a eureka moment’, that moment we get a breakthrough idea. Archimedes’ bath time exclamation has become the byword for innovation. But it doesn’t necessarily tell the full story.
That initial idea plays an important role in either kickstarting the creative process or propelling us past mental blocks and challenges. It will provide a burst of energy that sets us on our way. That, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the idea will be successful or that the energy will last.
Most innovations don’t take place overnight. In many cases, the journey from breakthrough to launch can be very long. While the story of Archimedes suggests that he made his breakthrough in his bath, he still had to develop the mathematics, prove his principle of displacement, and convert the theory into a practical tool.
We need something beyond the eureka moment, moments along the path that reinvigorate us and give us continued forward momentum.
The Videmus Moment
In his new book The World of Creativity, Swedish author Fredrik Haren introduces us to an additional burst of energy that can happen on multiple occasions and help sustain innovators on the journey to successful implementation of their ideas. It’s "the videmus moment",* "*videmus" being the Latin for "we see.". As Haren explains, the phrase designates “the first time a person says ‘Oh, I see!’, and you finally feel that you are not alone with your idea anymore.”
A 2022 study of open innovation communities shows that when people’s ideas receive emotionally supportive and constructive feedback from peers, the feedback serves as “verbal persuasion,” strengthening their creative self-belief and sustaining their capacity for generating new ideas over time. External validation can provide the confidence and motivation to move forward with innovative work.
For Haren, such external validation is as important as the original breakthrough. He told me, “The reason I decided to incorporate it into the book was that the eureka moment gets so much attention. But to me, the videmus moment is as powerful as the eureka moment. We should be aware of that.
“It’s not one big thing—on for the eureka moment and then off. It’s both of those. It’s two peaks instead of one. It changes the dynamic of the creative process."
Haren uses a gardening metaphor to help us visualise the impact of the videmus moment. In the book, he outlines the concept he calls "idealing": “Idealing is a combination of ‘idea’ and ‘seedling’. When we have an idea, we see its potential, but no one else does. You know the potential of a seed that is in the ground. But when the seed breaks out of the ground, and others can see it, too, its potential spreads to others.”
What if the Videmus Moment Doesn’t Happen?
Videmus moments are not guaranteed. The lack of third-party validation can undermine our motivation to proceed. Therefore, we may need to take steps to increase the likelihood of receiving positive feedback.
- Examine whether you’re surrounding yourself with the right people. Are you discussing your ideas with potential adopters or users of your innovation? Do you trust their judgment, and do they have the experience to understand what you are trying to achieve and the possible challenges to your progress?
- **Consider whether your idea needs some refinement. **If people don’t get it, allow yourself to regard that as feedback.
- Focus on improving the way you’re communicating the idea. Are you confusing people or not fully explaining what you are trying to achieve or the problem your ideas solve? Keep it simple and let people ask you to elaborate, rather than trying to share everything all at once.
When seeking feedback, it’s essential to be mindful of the risks of receiving artificial validation. Haren counsels, "The videmus moment is when someone gets the sparkle in the eye who is not connected to you. Feedback from close friends and family may not represent the true videmus moment, which occurs when someone unconnected to you recognises the value in your idea.”
Haren’s advice is to celebrate the eureka moments, as they generate new ideas in the first place. But then build on that moment. “Also, treasure those videmus moments. Someday, when you look back at your life, those moments when someone else, for the first time, saw the pure beauty of your best ideas will likely count among the best moments of your life.”
References
Zhang J, Qi G, Song C, Chen J. Continuous idea contribution in open innovation communities: The role of verbal persuasion from peers. Front Psychol. 2022 Dec 22;13:1061415. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1061415. PMID: 36619137; PMCID: PMC9815152.