March 28, 2011
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These days, there is a lot of talk about “the cloud.” As I listen to it, I realize that there is an even more powerful application for “clouds.” That is the kind of clouds that form in the sky to show us an infinite number of patterns limited only by our eyesight and our vision—imaginative vision, that is.
Remember your childhood, when you would lay on your back looking up at the clouds and see all sorts of amazing things? You might see unicorns or lions, planes or trains, or maybe dogs, cats, sheep and more. It’s a lost art these days, and has certainly fallen out of favor as a parent and child activity. That’s a shame, since studying the clouds is a wonderful exercise in perception and creativity.
For adults, it is even less of a top-of-mind thing to do. Too bad, is what I say to you adults. Some of the greatest ideas have “struck me” while I was watching clouds drift by. Some of those times, I had not even gotten around to finding the animals or mountains amongst the cumulus clouds (my favorites for cloud watching), because “new ideas” popped into my head.
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This may be a lost art, but it doesn’t have to stay lost. The key to rediscovering the power of imagination is to give it a chance. Studying the clouds in the sky uses the visualization skills that are so essential to innovation. Studying the clouds in the sky can also be a form of meditation that is essential to balance and emotional stability.
Executives, of course, are always “busy” doing things. They don’t have time to sit and stare up at the sky. They have important decisions to make, places to be and things to do. But in response to that kind of thinking, I challenge readers to try this.
Set aside five minutes of total silence. Close the door or go someplace else, preferably where you can see the sky. But don’t think about the clouds. Think about a thorny problem or a wonderful opportunity, the solution for which has been just outside your grasp. Concentrate hard and block out all other thoughts for the entire five minutes.
Isn’t five minutes of solitude and thought a long time? Imagine if you did this for longer, or more than every now and then. Just think about the creative and wonderful ideas you might have. Be careful, though, because this kind of behavior can be habit forming. It can also lead to ridicule by peers who have failed to see the merits of “studying the clouds.”
I often tell clients, “I am no smarter than you are; in fact, I am probably not as smart as you are. I only have one advantage that you don’t have. I have time to think. I study the clouds.”
Whoops! Now I’ve done it. I’ve given away my secret. I’d better go study the clouds to see if I can find a new one. Meanwhile, try it!
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