The Question That Transforms Brilliant Ideas Into Shining Successes
- Date: 2007-06-30 - Word Count: 411
Share This!
Do you limit your creativity for lack of a simple question?
Do brilliant ideas strike and slip away because you don't ask "What if?" Brilliant ideas alone do not make shining successes.
It's what happens after the brilliant idea strikes that counts. And that starts with the question "What if?" A creative problem-solver recognizes that a brilliant idea is only the start of a shining success.
He or she asks "What if?" and starts transforming the brilliant idea into a sparkling success. "What if?" puts fixed ideas "on hold" and challenges conventional wisdom. And it's what separates creative problem-solvers from conventional thinkers.
Here's an interesting example that I've used to illustrate this idea regardless of my listeners. It makes the point even if it does make a mess!
In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition. They offered the enormous prize of 200 gold florins to the architect that could span the unfinished dome of the Florence Cathedral.
This was the greatest architectural challenge of the age. In 1296, the original builders left prayers that God would offer a solution. Apparently, they built the base while remaining clueless about finishing the dome!
Filippo Brunelleschi was the answer to their prayers.
He proposed the radical idea of a dome supported by a brick vaulting system that balanced the opposing forces and eliminated the customary central supports. The experts called him mad.
Brunelleschi said he could prove his design by standing an egg upright on a flat surface. "Impossible!" exclaimed the experts.
Finally, Brunelleschi cracked the bottom of the egg and set it down. Imagine the mess! However, the egg stood upright. A genius of the Renaissance demonstrated his idea and amazed the experts.
Was Brunelleschi that much smarter than everyone else? Most likely, he was not. Is it possible that other architects thought of the same idea?
I've always thought so. After all, the Romans had pioneered this same innovation at least 14 centuries earlier. And Brunelleschi had traveled to Rome to inspect the ruins of those ancient architects and engineers.
So his idea was not even original!
However, Brunelleschi asked "What if?" while the others exclaimed "Impossible!" Somehow, the brilliant idea struck Brunelleschi and, to his credit, he sidestepped the accepted norms of his day and asked "What if?"
The rest is history and still stands to this day.
Don't let your brilliant ideas slip through your fingers! Ask "What if?" and grasp shining success after shining success.
And if you crack an egg to illustrate your idea, remember to bring a roll of paper towels!
Do brilliant ideas strike and slip away because you don't ask "What if?" Brilliant ideas alone do not make shining successes.
It's what happens after the brilliant idea strikes that counts. And that starts with the question "What if?" A creative problem-solver recognizes that a brilliant idea is only the start of a shining success.
He or she asks "What if?" and starts transforming the brilliant idea into a sparkling success. "What if?" puts fixed ideas "on hold" and challenges conventional wisdom. And it's what separates creative problem-solvers from conventional thinkers.
Here's an interesting example that I've used to illustrate this idea regardless of my listeners. It makes the point even if it does make a mess!
In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition. They offered the enormous prize of 200 gold florins to the architect that could span the unfinished dome of the Florence Cathedral.
This was the greatest architectural challenge of the age. In 1296, the original builders left prayers that God would offer a solution. Apparently, they built the base while remaining clueless about finishing the dome!
Filippo Brunelleschi was the answer to their prayers.
He proposed the radical idea of a dome supported by a brick vaulting system that balanced the opposing forces and eliminated the customary central supports. The experts called him mad.
Brunelleschi said he could prove his design by standing an egg upright on a flat surface. "Impossible!" exclaimed the experts.
Finally, Brunelleschi cracked the bottom of the egg and set it down. Imagine the mess! However, the egg stood upright. A genius of the Renaissance demonstrated his idea and amazed the experts.
Was Brunelleschi that much smarter than everyone else? Most likely, he was not. Is it possible that other architects thought of the same idea?
I've always thought so. After all, the Romans had pioneered this same innovation at least 14 centuries earlier. And Brunelleschi had traveled to Rome to inspect the ruins of those ancient architects and engineers.
So his idea was not even original!
However, Brunelleschi asked "What if?" while the others exclaimed "Impossible!" Somehow, the brilliant idea struck Brunelleschi and, to his credit, he sidestepped the accepted norms of his day and asked "What if?"
The rest is history and still stands to this day.
Don't let your brilliant ideas slip through your fingers! Ask "What if?" and grasp shining success after shining success.
And if you crack an egg to illustrate your idea, remember to bring a roll of paper towels!
Related Tags: success, personal development, self-improvement, self-help, creativity
Tony Papajohn coaches excellence and specializes in money. If you are a real estate investor, financial trader, entrepreneur, or want money to treat you like its new best friend, check out Tony's free e-courses at www.WelcomeMoreMoney.com . Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Jewellery Courses Tap Into Exploding Market
Jewellery has always been a lucrative business, and it's not surprising that the popularity of jewel - Selecting Gifts For Care Packages
There are many reasons why we sometimes have to send gifts through the mail. A son may be serving hi - Understanding Colors
Color can be both light and matter. In fact, color connects the worlds of light and matter - two wor - Imindmap Your Way To Bigger Business
Time was, doing business was simple. It was all about basic trade determined by existing needs. For - 6 Ways To Cultivate Your Creativity
Creativity is the ability to create, also known as the creative process. Sometimes though creativity - Why Promotional Items Have An Effect On Buyers
Spending money on promotional items in this economic climate might seem like a luxury for a business - Manifesting A Creative Life In 10 Ways
Imagine manifesting a totally creative life. There are people who do have this capacity and we have - Strictly Come Dancing - The John Sargeant Saga Continues
The Strictly Come Dancing audience gasped and the judges looked shell shocked when John Sargeant and - How To Use Affirmations In Business
Positive affirmations are powerful tools to help you manifest what you desire into your life. Everyt - Your Signature: Change It For Special Occasions-and Fun
Some people think there is only one way to write their signature, and they do it that way day after
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Creativity Management: The Value of Diversity
I recently gave a presentation at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design on a topic entitle - The Friendly Home Bar
Looking to entertain your guests with something stirred or shaken? No, not another manic video game. - Can Creativity Be Taught
Naturally, since I am not in fact a world famous sociologist with an endless supply of PhD's on the - Craving a Creative Kick? Try These 7 Tricks!
As entrepreneurs and creative types we have to keep those great business ideas flowing otherwise the - Can Creativity Be Measured?
Can creativity be measured? No, I don't think that creativity can be measured. There are no set rule - How To Unleash Your Creativity... A Guided Meditation
Unleash Your Creativity!What's so special about today? In this very moment you have a powerful oppor - Summer Every Season
Ahhh, the sumptuous days of summer. Clear skies, green lawns, barbeques and trips to the beach. Who - Just Say Yes to Your Creative Self!
How many times have you said to yourself, " I want to be more creative in my life?" and how many tim - Riding the Creative Flow
Notice that as soon as we wake up we start building stories inside our minds. It's a mixture of yest - Solving Those Difficult Business Problems
This is a brief introduction to a problem solving technique known as Boundary Relaxation.A problem b