Today I posted on Facebook, "Thom Neil thinks a mind that only feeds on itself soon becomes malnourished". One comment was, "Hum...OK. So when I'm told "gee, you really like to pick everyone's brains" it's a good thing? ..."
At our local office, we have a weekly study where we are discussing the principles of successful professionals. In that weekly gathering, we often hear someone say something along the lines of, "Wow, that makes me think of thus and such", or "What do you think would happen if...". The best ideas for the participants businesses seem to come from the stimulating principles or conversation. These are seasoned professionals gaining their best ideas from the inspiration of good thinking.
I'm what you could call a seminar junkie. I've been to hundreds on numerous topics and the best I've been to are the ones that get me thinking. Sometimes I'm not even getting ideas on the topic the speaker has chosen. Recently I attended an evening with the National Speakers Association where the presenter demonstrated various ideas for story telling, but the most profound thing I took from that meeting was how I could tell a story because I've been telling them in theaters for years as I've acted them out.
One young salesman observed several changes in the way his company was being run after his manager had attended a week-long sales management school. The frequency of sales meetings, changes to the compensation plan, newly designed business cards and stationary were among the improvements yet none of these techniques had been specifically suggested in the school.
There are many ways to stimulate your mind, but here are a few you might try (and with any luck this will stimulate even better ideas for you to try).
At our local office, we have a weekly study where we are discussing the principles of successful professionals. In that weekly gathering, we often hear someone say something along the lines of, "Wow, that makes me think of thus and such", or "What do you think would happen if...". The best ideas for the participants businesses seem to come from the stimulating principles or conversation. These are seasoned professionals gaining their best ideas from the inspiration of good thinking.
I'm what you could call a seminar junkie. I've been to hundreds on numerous topics and the best I've been to are the ones that get me thinking. Sometimes I'm not even getting ideas on the topic the speaker has chosen. Recently I attended an evening with the National Speakers Association where the presenter demonstrated various ideas for story telling, but the most profound thing I took from that meeting was how I could tell a story because I've been telling them in theaters for years as I've acted them out.
One young salesman observed several changes in the way his company was being run after his manager had attended a week-long sales management school. The frequency of sales meetings, changes to the compensation plan, newly designed business cards and stationary were among the improvements yet none of these techniques had been specifically suggested in the school.
There are many ways to stimulate your mind, but here are a few you might try (and with any luck this will stimulate even better ideas for you to try).
- Join and meet regularly with an association of professionals in your chosen occupation. Get around other success oriented people, rub shoulders (and minds) with them. Hopefully you'll start saying things like, "You know, during that meeting the other day, I got to thinking...".
- Join an organization or get your own group together of forward thinkers outside of your profession. Start a Mastermind. Being around people who have different business interests helps you see the big picture and gets you thinking outside the proverbial box.
- Find a friend or family member you can just bounce ideas off. You're bound to discover new insights that could change your life, the lives of those in your community or even the world.
I've read that principles give us the light to illuminate the paths before us. Notice it didn't say that principles were the exact steps to take, but the light to illuminate. So light your path with inspiration by stimulating your mind. You may just be amazed at the incredible future you see in front of you.
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