"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."
--- Oscar Wilde
Most of us only hear messages about goal setting near the end of the year in preparation for the New Year, but why do we wait? Begin now to instill hope and renewal into your business and your life by reviewing and renewing your business and personal goals. The exercise of goal setting is inspiring and I'm sure that a lot of us could use some inspiration about now with the dog days of summer upon us and the economy still slowly climbing out of a huge mess. There is no reason to stop our imagination from wondering to the land of new opportunities.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
--- Albert Einstein
In every business there is a period of growth followed by periods of stagnation, followed by growth, and so on. Those times without tremendous growth can cause even the seasoned businessperson to doubt and consider throwing in the towel. But it is exactly during those times that you must practice using your imagination like a child.
As difficult as it can be, allowing your mind to wander and dream again is how breakthrough business ideas originate.
"We must have a theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don't know where you're aiming, you don't have a goal. My goal is to live my life in such a way that when I die, someone can say, she cared."
--- Mary Kay Ash
According to Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy, one of the best ways to allow your mind to dream is to put your business goals on paper. Doing so opens up your mind to possibilities that then create more possibilities, leading to even more. The exercise of putting goals in writing with allowing even the silliest of them to land on paper has helped to create millionaires with million-dollar businesses.
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things! And powerful things at that, when mixed with definiteness of purpose, and burning desire, can be translated into riches."
--- Napoleon Hill
If you can, set aside a few days this month and give your mind permission to dream. Put those dreams and goals on paper. Then, prioritize your goals and list three bullet points of how you will achieve those particular goals in these remaining months of 2010. Be specific and remember to jot down all of what your imagination is dreaming up.
"The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams."
--- Og Mandino
The more you practice using your imagination to generate goals, the easier it becomes. The same is true with putting your goals to paper. Some goal-setting experts suggest yearly goals, while others say that you should put goals to paper monthly, weekly and even daily. Either way, the more you list your goals the easier it becomes and the closer you get to achieving them.
Remember to let your imagination go wild to create wild, outrageous goals. Your only limitations are those that your mind produces. Remove those boundaries. Say to your mind "Mr. Mind, tear down that wall!"
"The real source of wealth and capital in this new era is not material things...it is the human mind, the human spirit, the human imagination, and our faith in the future."
--- Steve Forbes
Jot down some goals now, even if they are small ones. You'll be glad that you started this healthy habit.
Hard Rock Café: An ode to the guitar
By Louis M. Brill
Rock & Roll! It's the music of the world and it's sound is stroked from a group of musical instruments, but central to its melodies is the guitar. Who can love rock & roll and not have a favorite guitar riff, or favorite guitar moment? Step inside the world of the Hard Rock guitar legend.
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Make Your Prices Stick…Without Getting Stuck
By Vince DiCecco
When a customer asks, 'What is your best price for this?' - can you make your prices stick without getting stuck? Delve inside to find out how to maintain a profit during challenging pricing times.
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Outside of a craft shop in Illinois:
"Notice to all shoplifters: Please help us by stealing only the crap we cannot sell"
Road sign seen in Utah:
"Soft Shoulder, Blind Curve, Steep Grade, Big Trucks…. Good luck!"
Outside a hotel in Kansas:
"Help! We need inn-experienced people!"
We know those funny signs are out there. Take a moment and send them in to us and we'll share them with the world. Send all hysterical observations to: info@signindustry.com.