Let your imagination pave way to success

Take a look at the back of a dollar bill. A pyramid with an eye at the top is on the left. Over the pyramid is the Latin inscription "annuit coeptis," which means "providence has favored our undertakings."

In his book, "Wisdom Well Said," Charles Francis takes an in-depth look at what the images mean: "The pyramid symbolizes the strength of the union of the states. The top of the pyramid is unfinished, meaning there is still work to be done to make our system even better. The eye stands for the all-seeing God, Supreme Builder of the Universe. Benjamin Franklin chose this motto because he believed imagination was the singular characteristic of the people he helped to forge into a new nation."

If we want to cultivate creativity and imagination, a good place to start is with children. Children don't recognize limits on possibilities. They look through that different lens -- that is, until we train them to focus on the practical.

A friend shared a story from the NewsOK website about two parents working on Christmas cards with their 6-year-old son. The son's job was to lick the stamps (back before self-adhesive stamps were available). The boy balked because he didn't like the taste of the glue on the stamps. His parents prevailed, and, reluctantly, he went to his room to finish his assignment.

Before long, he emerged with a big smile. Every envelope was stamped. His stunned father said, "But I thought you didn't like the way the stamps tasted when you licked them!"

"Yeah, that was yucky," the son replied. "So I just licked the envelopes and then stuck the stamps on."

Mackay's Moral: The only person who can put limits on your imagination is you.

by Harvey Mackay Jul 23, 2012


Let your imagination pave way to success