“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it” – William Arthur Ward

Have you ever had an ‘aha!’ moment; when something just clicks, a penny drops and things suddenly make sense? Inspiration strikes and all at once, you see things differently.

Getting that ‘aha moment’ is the critical thing. As the above quotation states, “if you can imagine it, you can achieve it.” How then does one go about imagining things that are different, ahead of their time, and worth the effort?

1. Keep an open mind. Accept ideas as they come. Sure, not all ideas that come into your mind will be worth following, but many will be. The biggest roadblock at times can be the one between your own two ears. Many people are far too conservative for their own good. Have you heard the story attributed to Henry Leavitt Ellsworth, US Patent Commissioner in the 1840s who is said to have remarked “Everything useful has already been invented?” Luckily for us, most entrepreneurs and scientists ignored this statement, continued to be inspired by their dreams and hopes and simply continued with determined work. The mind, it is said, is like a parachute. It works best when open.

2. Think. Take time to meditate, research, and muse. It is in your periods of quiet that ideas come to you. The more time you spend, the greater insight you gain. Read books on the subject and research to know then turn your knowledge into insight.

3. Test your ideas. Einstein spent countless hours in his laboratory generating and testing his numerous ideas before he found the ones that ‘clicked.’ An idea is no good if you don’t test its usefulness.

The world is run on ideas and it is waiting for yours.