Thursday, July 19, 2007
How absurdities become antidotes
Every day when I slap a new nametag on my shirt, I remind myself of what Einstein once said:“If at first your idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it.”
FACT: Einstein’s greatest scientific discovery sparked from a mental picture he had when he was 16 years old.
One day, while taking a walk, Albert envisioned himself riding atop of beam of light into outer space, traveling at 299,792,458 meters per second.
That ridiculous image helped him better understand accelerated motion.
Which helped him create the Theory of Relativity.
Which changed the world of science forever.
Which earned him the Noble Prize.
Which made him pretty much the smartest dude of all time.
All because of a totally ridiculous, totally humorous image.
Now, I'm not trying to compare myself to Einstein.
Still...
LESSON LEARNED: absurdities become antidotes.
In the book How to Think Like Einstein, author Scott Thorpe explains how this principle of melon motivating works:
“A brain has a mechanism that is the mental equivalent of an immune system – it rejects ideas that are foreign to it. But humor suppresses your mental immune system. So, if you treat a new idea humorously, you will be able to explore it more thoroughly because you wont immediately reject it. And your mind will be free to make other absurd connections with the seed idea, generating more concepts for solutions.”
How many crazy ideas have YOU had this week?
The answer is probably “not enough.”
ANOTHER FACT: as an entrepreneur, ideas are your major source of income.
So, a HUGE component of your professional success will be a function of three things:
1. How many of ideas you have.
2. How many ideas you write down.
3. How many ideas you put into action.
Wanna start thinking like Einstein and turn absurdities into antidotes?
Consider these three recommendations:
1. Observe. Grow bigger ears AND eyes any time someone says, “That’s funny,” “That’s weird,” “No way!” “Cool!” “You’re out of your mind!” or “Get the hell outta here!” This is your first indication that an absurdity might become an antidote.
2. Write it down. My three principles of idea capturing are always the same: 1) If you don’t write it down, it never happened; 2) That which goes unrecorded goes unmemorable; and 3) Writing is the basis of all wealth. So, just remember: every time you choose NOT to write your absurd idea down, you’re losing money.
3. Stick with it. Einstein once said, “I’m not smarter than anybody else, I just stick with it longer.” So, understand that your absurd ideas WILL be met with resistance – from coworkers, bosses, colleagues and competitors, even friends! And odds are, that resistance stems from jealousy, ignorance, fear, or some combination thereof. Which basically means, don’t sweat it. Instead, stick with it!
If you can remember those three keys, you’ll be certain to turn absurdities into antidotes!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go wash the adhesive gunk out of the upper left side of all my shirts.
LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Are you turning absurdities into antidotes?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Think about your three craziest ideas, and what each of them led to. What commonalities do you observe?
* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com
Are you the luckiest person you know?Watch Scott's interview on 20/20!
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Labels: melon motivating, QREATIVITY, writing is the basis of all wealth
Connect with Scott
Like HELLO, my name is Blog!
You may be lucky.
You are no Einstein.
I just don't buy your image. I think it is fantastic you have done well. Kudos to you.
You seem to take more than you give?
Gotta watch that!
You're right.
You got that right - I'm no Einstein!
However, I disagree that I "take more than I give."
EXAMPLE: How many other author/speakers offer 200+ articles and 6 ebooks for FREE on their websites?
ANSWER: zero.
Sounds like giving to me ;)
Thanks for your feedback, Anonymous!
Your example of giving away FREE articles and ebooks is self promoting. Not GIVING back.
I've seen you speak, shook your hand several times. You got a great gig kid. Work it while you can.
I'm not a hater.
Just calling you out.
Yes, my CONTENT-driven writings have self-promoting parts to them.
But that's just doing my job.
By the way, in the past 7 days, I gave three speeches for 150 high school students ... for free. I was paid nothing.
Still don't think I give back?
You are in Leysin, Switzerland for the past week. Who paid for your expenses?
You give speeches for a living.
You write books/articles/ezines, paid or free.
It's all about YOU!
Nothing wrong with it being about you.
That's how you roll.
Just calling it out.
Anyone else out there care to comment?
Yeah. I think it's really strange that you care so much... It sounds to me a lot more like jealousy than anything. You read Scott's blog. You have gone to more than one of his speeches... You seem to be enjoying his brand...
I think maybe you're misunderstanding what it means to get paid for doing your job. Example:
I am a graphic designer. I make designs for a living. I have done pro-bono (free) work for youth groups and animal shelters. But, my other clients have paid for my apartment, my laptop, the programs that are on it, and the electricity to run said laptop. Does that mean that because I am using my income to benefit others that it's all about me? That my brand is phony and I'm all "take"?
Please tell me - am I doing it all wrong too?
Also, what is it that you're hoping to accomplish by "calling Scott out"?
STL Knitter: You are his girlfriend. I do not know you. Can't comment on you.
Care and jealously play no roll. I just made an observation. I don't buy into Scott's image. In fact, I commended him for his success.
Smile, It's Friday!
Scott and Scott's Readers,
Over the past few months I had several conversations with Scott about an "absurd" idea I had and acted on to distribute 40,000 nametags at Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park. This past Sunday, 150 volunteers and my employer attempted to do so. We distributed 10,000 nametags and engaged 20,000 people in conversation. Our goals were to encourage people to talk to their neighbors and participate in another event. The impact of our efforts was awesome.
This was all possible because I acted on my absurd idea. Absurd ideas don’t live out of the box. They are outside of the warehouse or our case the ball park.
Scott your blog is the most useful blog on the internet and you do a great service to our society. You are a generous and your work makes a difference for me. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and your support.
Your friend,
Joseph Porcelli
Joseph, way to go! Sounds like a great event!
Anonymous way to go calling out Scott. You are doing such a great thing for us. To bad you posted as anonymous so we have no way to thank you. Where would we be with out postive, selfless, cowards like you!
Next time come out from behind the anonymous and let us know who you are. Maybe then we could buy your imagine and take you seriously.
Scott, keep up the amazing work!! You definately do give a lot!
Just the fact that Scott is successful is testament to how much he gives and gives. If people don't receive value then they don't buy. There are obviously many people in this world who feel that Scott gives them plenty! The others...just not "his" people. NEXT!