The Dog-With-a-Bone Approach to Never Running Out of Content

Have you ever had a brilliant idea strike you out of nowhere, only to dismiss it or forget about it?

You tell yourself, “I’ll get back to it later,” but later never comes.

That idea gets buried under the avalanche of daily life, lost forever.

The truth is, ideas are fleeting, but their potential is infinite if you hold onto them long enough to see them grow.

Here’s why you should never let an idea go and how to adopt a “dog with a bone” approach to content creation.

Last week, I had a short, fleeting idea for a reply to a post I read as I walked back from my morning coffee.

It went from comment to article to a newsletter in a few hours and inspired this article and five more I’ll write in the coming months.

 

Why Small Ideas Matter

We often think that only grand, groundbreaking ideas are worth pursuing. But that mindset overlooks the magic of small, seemingly mundane concepts.

Every viral post, bestselling book, or compelling video starts with a tiny spark. The difference lies in what happens next.

The key isn’t the size of the idea; it’s what you do with it. Take a simple thought, like a comment you make on social media, and expand it. It can blossom into a blog post, an email newsletter, or even a video.

For instance, as you saw above , I recently wrote a short comment online that resonated with a few people. I could have left it at that, but instead, I turned it into a Substack note.

That note inspired a longer newsletter, which I linked to in a Medium article.

Next, it will evolve into a video.

One idea. Multiple pieces of content. Endless value.

Comment => Post

 

The Dog-With-a-Bone Mindset

Content creators often feel like they’re constantly chasing new ideas. But what if you treated every idea like a dog treats a bone?

Once a dog gets hold of a bone, it doesn’t let go. It gnaws at it, buries it, digs it up, and goes back to gnawing.

That’s how you need to approach your ideas. Instead of posting something once and moving on, think about how you can expand, reframe, and repurpose it:

•Write about it: Turn your thought into a blog post or an article.

•Shorten it: Summarize it into a tweet, Substack note, or LinkedIn post.

•Expand it: Build a newsletter or podcast episode around the concept.

•Visualize it: Create a video or infographic to bring it to life.

The key is repetition—not in a robotic way, but as a way to give your audience multiple entry points to engage with your idea.

Comment => Post => Newsletter

The Fear of Repeating Yourself

“But won’t people get bored if I keep repeating myself?”

It’s a common concern, but it’s also a myth.

Think about the “boring guy at the bar” who always talks about the same subject. Let’s say it’s cardboard boxes. (That’s not a random example!!!)

He tells stories, shares details, and revisits the topic every time you meet him. At first, you might roll your eyes, but eventually, you find yourself oddly intrigued.

You know more about cardboard boxes than you ever thought possible, and maybe, just maybe, you start asking him questions.

Repetition works because not everyone sees your content the first time.

And those who do?

They need reinforcement to truly absorb your message. Familiarity breeds trust and authority.

How to Keep an Idea Alive

Here’s a simple process to ensure your ideas don’t slip through the cracks:

Capture Everything: Keep a notebook, digital app, or even a voice memo handy to jot down every idea, no matter how small or silly it seems.

Expand Gradually: Start with a short form—like a comment or tweet. If it resonates, expand it into a longer post, newsletter, or video.

Link Your Content: Build a spiderweb of interconnected pieces. Link from your blog to your newsletter, your social post to your video, and so on.

Revisit and Reimagine: Come back to old ideas periodically. A concept you dismissed months ago might have new relevance or potential.

Don’t Let Ideas Die

Great content creators don’t have more ideas than everyone else—they just make better use of the ones they have. By refusing to let ideas slip through the cracks, you create a system where each thought can grow, evolve, and provide lasting value.

So, the next time an idea pops into your head, don’t dismiss it. Don’t post it once and forget about it. Be like the dog with a bone: latch on and don’t let go.

Your next big breakthrough might already be in your hands—you just need to give it the attention it deserves.