Let me know what you think via Facebook or Twitter & share it (links below page). Appreciate it. The Grid will be updated in February 2012, including the suggestions of users. 

The Grid consists of 3 columns (1. Discover 2. Conceptualize 3. Inspire & Influence) and 21 questions. Via the Grid you’ll have to make concrete decisions about your personal goal(s), the context, your bigger plan, the role of stakeholders, your own actions and more. You can use these answers to sharpen your idea and to process them in your Idea Foundation (Why/How/What) or mission/vision/strategy. In the beginning of 2012 an online document will provide structure to get you through the next steps after going through the Grid.

Work it
1. Follow the yellow questions for a short cut.
2. Follow the three columns from top to bottom.
3. Create your own navigation. Your mind has probably already found a way.

Verbalizing > ‘Speaking’
Don’t you notice that while speaking about your idea, the words often come out more fluently than if you write? Ok, probably your verbal story needs more structure and less words, but you can use this speaking-easiness to get a grip on your idea : 1. Let somebody ask you questions about the meaning and value of your idea 2. Record the answers 3. Transcript it to text 4. Write your idea foundation using your computer (that’s what this thing is for anyway). In doing so, the meaning of your idea in words might carry more depth, emotion and vision. ‘Verbalizing’ ideas is sometimes easier than writing the blank canvas.

21 questions of the 21st century
Let these 21 questions of the 21st century guide you! Ask yourself these questions or let someone question you. She/he should ask you “WHY is that” after your reply. And, after your second answer again: “WHY is this [...] important”. In doing so, you both go deeper and deeper into the meaning of your idea. Now, transcript what you’ve verbalized, edit it, structure it and write your idea foundation. This ‘verbal’ approach might be easier than starting out with a white canvas on which the say-it-all-words have to land.

Transcript-your-speaking
I believe that in ten years time (probably earlier), we all have a more personal relationship with our computer a.k.a. our writing and searching device. No longer will we ‘write’ in order to get the information of our idea/vision across, we will speak to our computer ‘who’ will transcript it and put it on our website/outbox/social media profile after editing. This transcript-speaking-development will have a profound influence on our ability to understand our own ideas and how we explain our ideas to stakeholders.

BETA tests
During the Month of the Verbalized Entrepreneur, Monday October 3rd to Monday October 31st 2011, the New Verbalizing Grid was BETA tested during (inter)national Idea Verbalizing Sessions, which were face 2 face and through Skype. Ellen worked with entrepreneurs and brand owners in various industries – the online business, corporate business, sports, sustainability, the arts, hospitality and more. She continuous makes small adjustments to the Grid.

Your wish:
• Get me to the core of my idea. I want to use the New Verbalizing Grid, but I need someone to ask me the right questions and lead me to the essence of my idea.
• I have an idea, but it’s not a full and rounded concept yet.
• I need input, structure and focus to write my manifesto, ‘about’ text, one-pager or Idea Foundation (why/how/what) but my concept is not clear yet.
• I need inspiration for a wide range of interesting 21st century style concepts that resonate with my brand.
• I need structure how to get my messages out via social media. What is my message?

My forms:
• Personal brainstorm, face to face or via Skype.
• One-on-one session, 2H up to 4H, in a meeting room in Spaces or at your company.
• (in company) group workshop
• Monthly or weekly concept advising, in Spaces or via Skype, from 30 minutes up to 2H.

* Note: I believe the source of ideas, and thus all text about these ideas, lies inside of YOU. After structuring your thinking process, your braindump will be more valuable than if somebody else verbalizes it. So, I don’t finalize any texts after the session, I only co-write drafts with you. After all, it is YOUR idea!

My programs (more soon):
• New Verbalizing Grid Session
• SOS Focus
• Live Writing Session

New Verbalizing
The do-it-yourself method for idea owners, brand founders and entrepreneurs to build a strong idea foundation in order to influence and inspire. Charging ideas with value and meaning for their end-users.

Background
For almost ten years now, concept developer Ellen Bokkinga has been intrigued by why it is so difficult to verbalize ideas. Her background as a Copywriter is of great influence where too often she would receive poor briefings caused by one single reason: the foundation of the idea had not yet properly been thought through and many decisions were left on the table. The New Verbalizing Grid is her first do-it-yourself product that directly tackles the head-to-paper bridge and emphasizes the need of a good idea foundation.

James Webb Young in his book A Technique for Producing Ideas: “We tend to forget that words are, themselves, ideas. They might be called ideas in a state of suspended animation. When the words are mastered the ideas tend to come alive again.”

Inspiration
There are a few books and authors that have inspired Ellen while thinking and writing about the subject of ‘idea verbalizing’: A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young, Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson, The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher, Start With Why by Simon Sinkek, Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky, Good to Great by Jim Collins, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam, The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, The Tipping Point and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, The Information by James Gleick, We, Me, Them & It by John Simmons, The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki, Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder. And my #1 favorite The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

Testimonials

Kristel Kuit, CEO of an online startup on virtual assistence: “Prepare yourself for some serious mind work! I was amazed by the effectiveness of Ellen’s simple work method – armed with just a note book, marker and her Grid, Ellen walks you through different (thought) processes in order to make your ideas or goals more concrete, clear and focused. This company is one of the freshest, most fun and coolest I know! When stuck with ideas / not knowing how to put it in words / head cluttered with too much information / in need of inspiration & fresh ideas? Be smart, make use of New Verbalizers and have fun!”

Roos Neeter, CEO of Chillp fashion wear: “I really enjoyed it, for me it felt like a therapy session, a bit for myself but mostly for my business. Ellen was really interested and was asking a lot of questions that made me think of things I’ve never thought of before. I talked about my brand for nearly 2 hours and realized that If you have to write about your brand you first have to know every bit a piece to find the right words!”

Jessika Lynch, licensee and Communications Director TEDxEducation: “Ellen is passionate, driven, and knows how to look at the big picture from both inside and out. I have worked with her and her company, the New Verbalizers, to create mission statements and a value proposition for an upcoming TEDx event, and found her to be an excellent resource for finding the most focused, strategic path towards goal achievement. I plan to continue to collaborate with Ellen on my current and future projects.”

Also, she supports entrepreneurs, teams, brands and organizations in finding the value and essence of their new business idea(s). She helps them to verbalize their (personal) philosophy behind their ideas, so they can make a bigger impact.

“My mission is to empower idea owners and organizations – from start-ups to dinosaurs – to develop a clear and rich vision of their (business) idea. I believe that verbalizing the essence of ideas and structuring your thinking process gives tremendous focus and will make your idea more valuable to you and your end-users.”

Ellen is passionate about entrepreneurs/brands who are valuable and authentic because they resonate with what is relevant today, and translate this into great products & services that customers want. These brand concepts inspire us with their philosophy in striking ways, because they know their WHY.

Ellen created The New Verbalizing Grid, a do-it-yourself template for entrepreneurs and brand founders who want to deliver & create long-term value for their end-users, and who want to inspire and influence with their philosophy.

LinkedIn profile.

Why is it so difficult to verbalize ideas?

Her insights:
1. An idea is organic – it changes, because we change. Structuring and capturing our thinking process gives us tremendous focus.
2. Focusing on the why (why do I want to execute this idea) is crucial. Our lifelong search for meaning is this why, and a project/idea is the blueprint of how we feel about this why today. Basically, a worded reflection of our soul. (Author Simon Sinek points this out in his marvelous must-read-book ‘Start With Why’)
3. Taking time to verbalize choices will save time in the long run, because execution happens with a complete understanding of the idea and outcome(s).
4. Make an idea and its choices concrete (in words) as fast as possible. After this, you either execute it, completely change direction or make room for another idea.
5. Shifting our perception from ‘writing’ to ‘getting ideas on paper’ to ‘verbalizing choices’ will most likely make us more comfortable.

Photo by: Ilja Keizer

Ellen Bokkinga worked for a lot of exciting concepts. According to her, concepts that really offer value to their end-users and whose founders are able to get their philosophy across, speak to people’s imagination. In other words, 21st century style concepts, founded by people who are truly ‘new verbalizers’ and are able to inspire and influence.

citizenM

Zoku

Frozz

TEDxAmsterdam / TEDxBaghdad / TEDxAmsterdamED (Education)

What Is That Taste

Stadskantine

Look further on The New Verbalizers website, HQ for 21st century concept development. The New Verbalizers is named after YOU. You want to explore the meaning of your idea and verbalize it in a way that people will “get it” and want to connect. You are able to verbalize who you are, what your brand/service/product stands for and to inspire others with your philosophy. YOU feel completely at ease in the 21st century and are always on the lookout for inspiration and an understanding of the way people do things. YOU are The New Verbalizers.

The 21st century is the current century of the Anno Domini era or the Common Era in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The century began on January 1, 2001 and will end on December 31, 2100. Currently, 11 years of the 21st century have passed and there are 89 ahead of us. I wont make it to the next century and will die as a 21st century citizen.

How will the start of the 21st century be different from the end? How smart will we be in bettering our planet’s future, and with what new strategies and tools? How will the earth cope with a growing world population? How will the digital revolution, which began around the 1980′s, continue?

The coming years, from 2011 to 2100, are subject for futurologists, idea developers and creatives – in other words: US. We are all on this planet wondering what is happening now and what will be next. We react to these interesting topics in the form of innovative ideas. Whether from an artistic, business -or charity point of view, in whatever form.

Which criteria should a typical 21st century idea hold? And what kind of ideas do we nowadays need? On my blog Our21stCentury I will follow my own curiosity and research 21st century ideas.

Ellen is a member of The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, and judged the 1st Annual Lovie Awards in the end of 2011. The Lovie Awards is the newest initiative by IADAS, which has presented The Webby Awards (hailed as “The Internet’s Highest Honor” by The New York Times) for over a decade. The Lovie Awards will discover and celebrate the most creative and innovative people and online work of Europe.

Also, The New Verbalizers was part of the vibrant Internet Week Europe, from November 7 – 12. On Wednesday November 9 at 2PM, Ellen had the pleasure to host a presentation/workshop “Idea Verbalizing in the 21st Century” in the Classroom of The Hospital Club.

During this Idea Verbalizing presentation the participants discovered:
• Why is it so hard to verbalize an idea.
• Strategies to verbalize the core of your idea.
• How to find the value of your idea for your end-users and understand your philosophy behind it.
• Get a checklist about Idea Verbalizing in the 21st century.

On December 22, Ellen is part of a panel on the power of Indie-Brands*, during the Indie-Brand event.
* Indie-Brands: they are independent, they have a story worth sharing and they all understand the magic of marketing.

SellAnApp is transforming passionate app ideas into actual mobile applications. They’re building a kickass crowdsourcing and crowdfunding platform to bring app ideas to life and help app-developers to go from doodle to business. Ellen/The New Verbalizers took part in the first SellAnApp Live Event where 15 student teams turned their ideas into concepts. What a bunch of bright minds! It was a lovely day.