Why the World Needs Your Crazy Idea

Every big change in history started as someone’s “crazy” idea. The airplane. The internet. A woman climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan at 66. Crazy, right? That’s what people often say when they hear something bold, unexpected, or out of the ordinary. But the truth is, everything remarkable we see today once lived inside someone’s imagination—alone, misunderstood, and fragile. And if you’re carrying around a dream that others call unrealistic or too far-fetched, this book is for you. Because the world doesn’t just tolerate crazy ideas—it needs them. In Success in 7 Steps, Dierdre Wolownick shares how her own “crazy” ideas not only shaped her life but became a source of inspiration for thousands of others. From teaching herself to climb in her sixties, to conducting a symphony without formal training, to launching a publishing company with no blueprint—Dierdre did all of it not because it made sense to others, but because it made sense to her. And that’s the exact mindset she wants you to embrace.

What others call “crazy,” Dierdre calls vision. She reminds us that the most meaningful ideas rarely show up with permission. They don’t come with applause or support. Often, they show up quietly, tugging at your mind in the middle of the night, whispering “what if…” And when you finally speak them aloud, people might laugh. They might doubt you. They might even try to protect you from disappointment by telling you to be more “realistic.” But here’s the truth she wants you to remember: realistic doesn’t change the world. Your wild idea might just be the thing someone else is waiting for.

Dierdre’s journey proves that you’re never too old, too unqualified, or too late to chase something bold. She started climbing because she wanted to understand her son’s world—but what she found was a deeper understanding of herself. She didn’t grow up thinking she’d ever stand on top of a 3,200-foot granite wall, yet she did it. Not because she was fearless, but because she dared to follow that inner voice—the one that didn’t stop dreaming just because the world said no. One of the most powerful messages in the book is that dreams don’t have to make sense to anyone else. They only need to matter to you.

Still, many people hold back. They think their idea isn’t “big enough” or “important enough.” But Dierdre flips that thinking on its head. She explains that what you dream about is already important—because you are. Your idea doesn’t have to reach millions to be meaningful. It just has to reach someone. And sometimes, the person it reaches first… is you. She shares how her mother always dreamed of writing a book—a story filled with emotion and heart that she spoke of often, with her eyes lit up and hope in her voice. But she never began. That story died with her. It remained just a beautiful dream—one that made her happy to talk about, but one that never made it to the page.

Dierdre tells that story not to bring sadness, but to show urgency. To show what’s at stake when we wait too long, doubt too much, or aim too low. Because while your idea might be laughed at today, tomorrow it could become your legacy. The world needs people who aren’t afraid to stand out. People who act on ideas before they’re popular. People who create before they feel ready. And most of all, people who keep going even when nobody else understands the vision. Dierdre’s method isn’t just about dreaming—it’s about doing. Her book lays out a clear plan for how to move forward with any idea, no matter how outrageous it seems. She teaches that every goal must be broken down into three categories: what you need to know, what you need to have, and what you need to do. In that order. That structure gives your idea a path. And once you give your dream structure, it stops being a wish and starts becoming a goal. Her message is simple: action beats anxiety. Clarity comes from movement. You don’t need to be perfect to begin—you just need to begin.

If you think your idea is too “out there,” consider this: Dierdre became a symphony conductor, a publisher, a speaker, a painter, a linguist, and a climber—not because she was handed a manual for each of those things, but because she said yes. She said yes to learning, yes to failing, yes to doing it differently than everyone else. And now she’s showing you that you can too. The world needs more people who live like that. People who don’t let fear sit in the driver’s seat. People who try anyway. People who understand that one small step toward a crazy idea is more powerful than a lifetime of waiting for the “right” moment.