Classic Zig Ziglar

The following is some of my favorite material from my book "Over the Top." Several years ago I did a seminar on building a healthy self-image. At the end of the seminar, Mary Ellen Caldwell told me with considerable excitement what it had meant to her. She explained that her father was forced into retirement a few months earlier and had been very unhappy. She was concerned about him because he had been very active throughout his life. She then thanked me for the number of wonderful ideas for activities and other things she and her father could do together, since her parents would soon be moving to Dallas.

I looked at the list Mary Ellen held out to me and was astonished — until I reflected on what I saw. There was not one single thing or idea recorded on her list that I had given her. As a matter of fact, I had not even mildly hinted at any of her suggestions in my presentation.

The mystery is not really a mystery. What had occurred is simplicity itself. Over a lifetime, Mary Ellen Caldwell had learned a great deal about her dad and obviously loved him very much. All of that information was in her mind and ready to be used. I gave her some new and different information, and her creative imagination went to work. The old information popped up, then the new information popped up; they took a look at each other and said, "You know, if we got together we could probably create something exciting!" And that is exactly what happened.

Message: Any new information you acquire enables the old information stored in your memory to become more valuable.

You can combine the two, and that's where creativity comes into play. Before that happens, however, we must understand that you need to have a dream upon which to apply that information. Henry David Thoreau put it this way: "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. If you build castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."

It's absolutely true that Walt Disney didn't see a mouse in his imagination. He saw millions of children of all ages laughing and having a great time.

I want to build a strong case for imagination because it can be magnificent when put to the proper use. The question is, how do you build on what you already know to increase your knowledge and, consequently, enhance your imagination? First, you need to consider your major field of interest. Then, you need to acquire all the information you can after you "know it all." For example, my doctor friends tell me that after the first three years of medical school, they know enough to solve 90 percent to 95 percent of all medical problems they will encounter in their career. It's what they learn afterward that enables them to handle those rare situations that set them apart. When you keep learning, your creativity explodes, and you can solve problems that put you in truly elite company.

The message is clear. Every new bit of learning increases your creativity, so keep learning! You'll be glad you did.

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.

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