When you did chemical equations back in 10th Grade Chemistry, you’ll remember that you might have to determine which substance was the limiting reagent. You were figuring out which material would run out first as the chemical reaction happened.
In your creative life, there are many factors. Which is your limiting reagent of creation?
- Ideas
- Creative Skills
- Time
- Money
- Collaborators
Most people assume that ideas are the limiting reagent. But early in your training, creative skills are much more limiting – no matter your ideas, your ability to execute them will be limited.
And in the end, for most of your career, in my experience the limiting reagent is time. There are simply not enough hours in the day to use up the ideas or creative skills at your disposal. And while money and collaborators are important, in the end they are often available when the need arises.
Time is the limiting reagent.