Imagination

Prequote – Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing

According to Mr. Hill, imagination is literally the workshop wherein are fashioned all plans created by man.

I again go back to the difference between being “in the groove” and being in “a rut”. Is it possible that the missing magic ingredient is imagination? Why is it acceptable to stop the creation process? Further, is it allowable to be creative in one portion of our lives and not in others?

I have observed, and I do not believe many would disagree, that children are blessed with incredible imaginations. I will never forget when my daughter at the age of ten informed me of the ride she had experienced in the corvette of one of my friends. Her story was so vivid. I could almost see the breeze blowing in her hair and the smile on her face. She described the route they had experienced and the awesome feeling of speed. I was so happy for her. There was only one problem. The wonderful ride had never happened. It was pure unencumbered imagination. Some would call this an unadulterated lie. I called it incredible. It also made me wonder why my imagination was in park. I could not remember the last time I had allowed myself the opportunity to use my creative talents.

Throughout life we are peppered with facts and figures and the “correct answer”. Please think of all the things we would not have in our lives if creative types had stayed “within the lines”.

An education and a career should ignite the creative juices. I would contend that in most cases it does just the opposite. We are taught how to conform and provide our prospective employers what they are looking for. Maybe, just maybe, these employers do not know what they are really looking for. Maybe, just maybe, it is up to the young and ambitious that have not had their creative juices thwarted by years of “that is not the way we do it” to teach us where we should be spending our money and energy.

While this is an interesting thought, why does it rarely happen? I believe it is because these young and energetic future leaders have not, for the most part, been allowed to exercise their influence or they have chosen not to.

Take the job selection process. The process has not changed much from the days when I graduated. Resumes are written that basically say “Please give me the chance to start at the bottom of your organization.” Visits to the placement office to see which Company’s will visit. This is the universe. If Companies do not visit, they do not exist. Signing up for those that look good and some cursory research. Finally, praying that someone will find us worthy of employment. This is not always the case, but for the most part it is the rule.

Mr. Hill did not believe this was the proper method of determining our future. He believed that it was important to study companies and determine the one that you believe is the best fit. Once this was determined, perform detailed analysis to ascertain exactly the value you would bring to that company. This analysis would then be transcribed into a definite, detailed plan on how it would be implemented. It was than sent to the decision maker and followed up. If there was more than one company, a different plan was sent to each company.

Again, it is important to understand that this book is over 80 years old. Maybe now it is not as easy to get to the decision maker. This brings us back to imagination. If we go about looking for our first substantial employment in a generic mundane manner, what message does that send? We still must find a way to stand out from the crowd. What can the prospective employee do? Internships, networking, early identification and research on their target – would any of these things work?

Most companies get more applications for employment than they could ever give justice. This means that most applications get a cursory review and are passed over. Applicants have a snapshot to get attention. If the best we can do is use thicker or different color paper, our efforts are woefully lacking. Imagination brings differentiation.

Mr. Hill states “Mans only limitation lies in his development and use of imagination”

It has taken me too much time to realize that the structure of most companies and educational institutions are not conducive to the development of imagination. We lay out exactly what is expected and dissuade active participation. More often then not we want to prove we are right rather that ask the questions “What do you think” or “How did you come to that conclusion.

If given the chance, most individuals will take the easy road rather than the road that requires the magic of imagination. There is rarely a day that goes by that I do not have someone state “I do not know how to do this” or “we have a problem.” It is easier to upward delegate the problem than it is to kick start the imagination and come up with a proposed solution.

The pre-quote from the chapter on specialized knowledge stated that “every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. By precluding the use of imagination, companies and educational institutions are robbing our next leaders of this greater benefit. We are not allowing them to learn from their mistakes and demanding the development of their imagination.

However, the blame is not all with Companies and the education system. It is my opinion that the joys of reading and writing are in danger of becoming lost talents. The use of video games, computers, cell phones and television as babysitters has created a generation that does not see the value of reading and writing. Granted, for some, these "distractions" have sparked the creative jucies, but most are inactive participants in the passing of time. There is little if any educational value transmuted.

The creative faculty becomes more alert in proportion to its development through use. The converse of this fact is that nonuse of this faculty leads to cynicism of ones ability to change ones position in life and resignation. One day becomes just like another and all that is wrong is happening to us by forces outside of our control.

All good things start with an idea which is an impulse of thought. Mix in a definiteness of purpose that trasmutes in to a passion and all things are possible.