Can You Imagine?

 

 

     After watching the clever film, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I watched the DVD bonus features, including an interview with Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long, who wrote the book upon which the film was based. It turns out the women wrote a short series of cartoons with captions as a joke to pass around to their friends. An agent got a hold of the little book and thought it would make a great movie, and before Michele and Jeannie knew it they were on the set with Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. They had no idea that their little idea would turn into a huge production.

      Every huge success starts out as a little idea. Or big idea. But an idea, nevertheless. Never discount or overlook the power of one single idea. It could change your life ― and the world.

     Like the night that comedian Mike Myers was driving home listening to his car radio, when the song "What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love," came on. The song drew Mike’s mind back to the wild and wonderful sixties. "Wouldn't it be cool to make a movie that spoofs that era?" he thought to himself. In that moment the blockbuster Austin Powers was born.  

     Or the day that Larry Page and Sergey Brin sat in a garage and kicked around the idea to create an Internet search engine that would supersede any that already existed. Behold the birth of Google.

     Or the night at one of my seminars when I asked the audience, "What would you do if you weren’t afraid?" A woman named Margie raised her hand and declared, "I would ask a certain man to go to a party with me as my date."  Feeling bold, I handed Margie my cell phone and asked her, "Would you phone him now?"

      Margie stepped out of the auditorium and returned a few minutes later with a big smile. "I have a date!" she happily declared.

      A year later I returned to the same town and asked a mutual friend if she had seen Margie lately. "Oh, yes," she answered. "I went to her wedding last new year’s day."

     "Who did she marry?" I asked.

      "The man she phoned the night of your seminar."

     So, you see, quirky, spontaneous, even silly thoughts can develop into mega-successes. Nobel prize winner Linus Pauling (the only person to ever win the Nobel Prize in two different disciplines, Physics and Chemistry) declared, "The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas." He was echoed by Albert Einstein: "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."

   What are you imagining? 

 

           Alan

 

Click Here to Receive Daily Inspirational Quote

 

How to Deal with a Critical Boss?
 

I started a new job, which seemed like a blessing, but I feel miserable. I like the work and I enjoy my environment, but my boss's attitude bothers me a great deal. I feel demeaned and put down by the things she says and does and her attitude toward me. I have broached a couple instances of this with her, and her response was to tell me I am wrong about the way I feel. I feel demoralized and I've started to feel helpless and angry a lot. Normally I have compassion for people and it bothers me that I have stopped wanting to do anything but hate her.  I know I am not powerless, but that is how I feel. Any wise words for me?

 

Click here for Alan's answer

 

---

 

Did you receive this from a friend?

We do not share our mailing list or send advertisements. You will not receive any spam.

 

Building Great Relationships

Click here for a menu of all of Alan's 2007 online courses.  Register for several now and receive discounts up to 33%.