402 THE PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL POWER
For removing some dirt from where it was not needed to where it
was needed! For mixing some useless dirt with Imagination!
The people of that little city gave this man credit for being a genius,
and he was-the same sort of genius that anyone of them could have
been had they used their Imagination as this man used his.COMMENTARY
You will often find yourself in situations where you face a problem that offers no
obvious solutions. The following four techniques for focusing your imagination are
designed to help you get around problems in your quest for success.
Imagination helps you look at a situation in a novel way and make connections that
you've not seen before. These exercises may not present you with million-dollar solutions,
but they do have the power to stimulate your mind to consider new approaches.
Gall a Council of Advisers: In Lesson Two there's a story about a man who
imagined himself at a table surrounded by great figures whom he wanted to
emUlate. The purpose for this imaginary group of great leaders is to ask each of
them how they would tackle a particular problem.
Seek Random Inspiration: Select a book of inspiring words, perhaps the
Bible or a book of quotations, or the autobiography of someone you admire. Open
it anywhere and read the first sentence your eyes fall upon.
Turn the World Upside Down: Make a list of the four or five major compo-
nents of your problem. Underneath each, write down what the oppOSite situation
would be.
Go Away: Strange as it may seem, sometimes focusing your imagination
on a problem can be a trap. You need a way to break free of the mental boundaries
you have created. The key is to reduce pressure on yourself and allow your mind
a freedom that you have not been giving it.In the field of chemistry it is possible to mix two or more chemical
ingredients in such proportions that the mere act of mixing gives each
ingredient a tremendous amount of energy that it did not possess. It is