“Act Before It Bugs: The eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days. Inspiration takes less than 7 seconds—act immediately—or it’ll really bug you later!”
~ Note to Self Chronicles—TonyBrigmon.com
Ever had a genius idea hit you like a lightning bolt… and then watched it vanish into thin air?
That’s not bad memory—that’s inspiration evaporation.
Here’s the bug truth: Ideas are like potato bug eggs. They’ve got a serious ticking clock.
Potato bug eggs hatch in 7 days. But your brilliant inspiration? You’ve got about 7 seconds before it starts to fade away. Wait too long, and your amazing thought becomes yesterday’s mashed potatoes—lumpy, cold, and totally forgotten.
Don’t let your ideas turn into has-beens!
Meet the Bug Crew
Let’s talk about the characters we all know (and maybe secretly are):
Patty Potato Bug is the queen of “someday.” She keeps a fancy jar labeled “Great Ideas” on her desk… but it’s still sealed tight. Dust bunnies have made it their home.
Then there’s Larry the Last-Minute Lizard—always ready to spring into action, but only after the perfect opportunity has already scurried away into the sunset.
But Speedy Sue Sparrow? The moment an idea lands in her brain, she acts. No waiting for perfect conditions. No “let me think about this for three weeks.” She might look a little frantic with her feathers all ruffled, but guess what? She gets the worm every single time.
Why You’ve Got Less Than 7 Seconds to Act Before It Bugs
Science has some bad news for procrastinators everywhere.
When your brain sparks with a fresh idea, your motivation peaks instantly—and then drops faster than a hot potato if you don’t grab it.
It’s exactly like fresh popcorn: hot, buttery, absolutely irresistible… until it cools down and loses all that magical appeal.
An idea that sits around too long starts feeling heavy. Like trying to push-start a car uphill—sure, you can do it later, but now it takes way more effort and a lot more huffing and puffing.
The bottom line? Strike while the iron is hot, or you’ll be stuck with cold metal and zero momentum.
Three FUNomenal™ Ways to Fry the Delay
Ready to beat the bug? Here’s your action plan:
1. Catch It Fast
Write it down. Voice record it. Text it to yourself. Doesn’t matter if it’s messy—just capture that spark the second it pops up.
2. Start Small
Do one tiny action immediately, even if it feels clumsy or imperfect. Send one email. Make one phone call. Take one small step. Motion creates more motion.
3. Pass the Spark
Tell someone who will cheer you into action. Find your personal hype squad—the people who say “DO IT!” instead of “maybe you should think about it more.”
Think of this as idea CPR—you’re keeping the heartbeat going before it flatlines completely.
✍️ Note to Self: The faster you act, the smaller the bug becomes and the bigger your results grow. Don’t let your good ideas hatch into a pile of regrets.
— Content created with human heart & AI hands —
About Tony Brigmon
Tony Brigmon | Speaker—Emcee | TonyBrigmon.com
Tony Brigmon is a party animal. He’s been known to stay up well past nine o’clock drinking root beer and telling G‑rated jokes. Sure, the neighbors complain, but that doesn’t stop him. Because Tony is serious about having fun. Serious fun, with serious results.
As a result of his questionable spelling skills, Tony learned at an early age that his name spelled backward is “YNOT.” As in, “YNOT take a closer look at his book?” Or, “YNOT smile when you should be crying?”
Tony was a Southwest Airlines “Insider” and the former “face” of their renowned culture as their official “Ambassador of Fun” during their Golden Era. At Southwest Airlines, “fun” was the power of “positivity” that helped catapult a small carrier into a force that changed the airline industry.
Today, Tony is a popular speaker, emcee, and author of The FUNomenal™ Workplace. (FUNomenal™ is pronounced the same as phenomenal but it’s a lot more FUN.)
Former CEO of Southwest Airlines, Howard Putnam, says, “Tony has a gift for blending fun and capturing ideas in a manner that sticks for audiences.” Tony’s friends say that no one should have so much fun while sober. Tony’s wife said she has had about all the cheerfulness she can stand.
“Fun” transformed this author’s work and life. YNOT discover if the serious power of fun can transform the next 30 seconds of your day or 30 years of your life?
YNOT arrange to have Tony Brigmon teach you and your team how the power of fun can help you get more done, bring out the best in everyone, and make you irresistibly attractive in your communication with others. You can do this. So, YNOT?