The Shiny Dime Challenge

A Shiny Dime is a specific and surprising idea. It's the singular focus of a piece of writing. And it's a concept that will help you capture attention in a crowded world.

Hey writers,

Welcome to week nine of the Shiny Dime Challenge. Last week, you learned how to craft a great coined phrase. This week, you will learn how to find your shiniest dime: your Core Idea. And, you’ll take on the final writing prompt of the challenge. (So, get ready to write your best piece yet.)

Discovering Your Core Idea

Right now, there’s a glut of mediocrity in the world, and people are craving high-quality ideas more than tourists crave a swig of cold water in the Texas sun. Luckily, you’re full of ideas. You’ve proven that to yourself throughout the Shiny Dime challenge. But not all of these ideas are created equal. Some ideas are core to who you are, embedded in the very code of your DNA. This is what we call your Core Idea. 

A Core Idea is the most important thing you uniquely have to say. It can be a story you need to tell, an idea you need to share, or a message you need to spread. It’s the most distilled expression of what you believe to be true; it's the combination of what you’ve done, what you know, and what you stand for. It’s the pit of the whole avocado. Your Core Idea is your shiniest dime, your most central idea. 

Why do Core Ideas matter, you ask? Well, a Core Idea isn't just any ol’ idea. It's impactful enough to influence society and change the way people think. And by sharing your Core Idea, you could change your life. 

Your Core Idea bridges the gap between online and offline, between writing and doing significant work in the world. Just look at what these Write of Passage students have accomplished by sharing their Core Ideas:

• Alex Telford shared one article that caught the attention of Patrick O’Shaughnessy. He then got invited onto Invest Like the Best, one of the top investing podcasts in the world. 
• Ivy Xu shared one article that led to the launch of her $15k/month coaching business.
• Michael Ashcroft shared his expertise on one idea: the Alexander Technique. Then, he used it to build a six-figure business. 

One idea, one essay, leads to life-changing opportunities. This is the power of discovering your Core Idea and sharing it with the world. 

And here’s the thing: most of your ideas are just symptoms of a Core Idea. All day long, ideas swirl in your head like a flurry of snowflakes during a blizzard in Ontario. If each idea were a snowflake, then your Core Idea would be the cloud from which they fall. 

Everybody has a Core Idea inside of them, including you. So, as you start brainstorming your Core Idea, make sure it follows the 10-10-10 Heuristic. It should pique a stranger’s interest in 10 seconds, be interesting enough to read about for 10 minutes, and be compelling enough for you to explore for 10 years. 

Happy brainstorming, and we’ll see you in your inbox on Wednesday for your last writing prompt of the challenge. 

– The Write of Passage Team