By Dr. John C. Maxwell ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Earl Wilson said, "If what you did yesterday still looks pretty big to you, then you haven't done enough today." In other words, becoming successful doesn't justify hitting the cruise control and taking a vacation. In fact, when you are the leader in your field, it takes a greater level of innovation and commitment to stay there.
William Danforth said, "The best cure for a sluggish mind is to disturb it's routine." It's true that the secret to success lies in a person's daily routine. But to remain ahead of the game it is necessary to occasionally disrupt your daily routine to better foster fresh ideas and innovative solutions -- because yesterday's methods don't stay fresh for long. The following four items are daily practices to help you maintain a creative edge in your work. As a leader, make them a part of your routine to ensure that you and your organization are not just setting the standard but continually raising it to another level. 1. HANG AROUND CREATIVE PEOPLE. Joseph Joubert said, "We should always have in our heads one free and open corner, where we can give place, or lodging as they pass, to the ideas of our friends. It really becomes unbearable to converse with men whose brains are divided up into well-filled pigeon-holes, where nothing can enter from outside." Even the most creative people seldom create something out of nothing. They simply take what everyone else sees and create something with it, taking it to a new level. Make sure you're taking time to observe and listen to people who have a history of being innovative, whether in their personal lives or in your field of endeavor. 2. ALWAYS SEARCH FOR MANY OPTIONS. Philosopher Emile Chartier once said, "Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it's the only one you have." Even when things are going well, make a point to continually search for a better way of doing things. It will provide insurance that a better alternative has not been overlooked and keep your creative talents in constant practice. 3. PRACTICE MENTAL AGILITY. William Plomer said, "It is the function of creative men to perceive the relations between thoughts, or things, or forms of expression that may seem utterly different, and be able to combine them into some new forms." Mental agility is the ability to see unique relationships between seemingly unconnected things. Before you write off a far-fetched idea, back up and look at the big picture. You may find that it fits perfectly on another level. 4. HAVE FUN. A few years ago, Business Week reported that a forty-year-old adult is about two percent as creative as a five-year-old child. Dr. Seuss put it this way: "Adults are obsolete children." Unfortunately, growing up has made many people become too structured in their thinking. But it's that childlike creativity that can make you the top innovator in your field. Continually ask yourself if you still enjoy what you're doing. When you are truly having fun in your work, creativity flows freely. Ray Kroc once said, "As long as you're green, you're growing; as soon as you're ripe, you start to rot." Kroc understood that innovation is the key to staying on top of your game, and lack of innovation ultimately leads to dried up ideas and plans. Make a commitment to maximize your creativity on a daily basis and give yourself a decided edge. Jef Menguin, ATMG _________________________________ 7264397 - 09204323632 - http://communicator-ezine.blogspot.com/ Growth Orientors HR Training Consultancy ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> You can search right from your browser? It's easy and it's free. See how. http://us.click.yahoo.com/_7bhrC/NGxNAA/yQLSAA/89EolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." Matthew 11:12 Do you want to be a World Changer? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worldchangers2010/ <img src="http://www.danasoft.com/sig/go0dspeed.jpg";> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worldchangers2010/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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