Self motivation, articles and advice

UNTIL ONE IS COMMITTED

Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation there is one elementary truth, ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans. That the moment one definitely commits oneself then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
BOLDNESS HAS GENIUS AND POWER AND MAGIC IN IT. BEGIN IT NOW.
- Wolfgang von Goethe

De Bono is a proponent of lateral thinking and starts with the hypothesis that the biggest problem is that there might be no problem. Progress is only possible if there is a problem! Problems are the shocks that are a prelude to creative lateral thought. Doubt all accepted dictum. The need to be what is accepted as right at every turn is a bar to new ideas. He reminds us that when children stop playing the world changes from an unknown and exciting adventurous place in which wonderful things happen into a familiar place. The reluctance to invest in new ideas until they can be effectively judged precludes some of the best opportunities of our lives. Education alone is not enough. The world is full of people over-educated on old ideas and new ways of thinking forever elude them.

Dr. De Bono's "Hole Theory" is an analogy applied to his philosophy on problems. After reading his work I have extracted the kernel of his thinking:

That is it not possible to dig a different hole by digging in the same place.
That if the hole is in the wrong place nothing is gained by digging it deeper.
That vertical thinking says dig the hole deeper.
That lateral thinking says try again elsewhere.
Too much invested in the old hole is a disinclination to invest in another.
That education is designed around the technology of the old hole.
Education is seldom designed to focus on a new way of digging holes.
Education's main purpose is to make present knowledge the Holy Grail.

Lateral thinking as it applies to us is that if you are unaware of the theory of holes you can start where you like with innovation which is the heart of entrepreneurial thought. Abandoning old ways of thinking is not encouraged by an educational system that does not always encourage creative thought. This type of thinking can create massive losses of money and time by staying with outdated ideas. Continuing with this "hole" theory, the experts are to be found in the bottom of the deepest holes, so deep that they cannot get out to take a look around! They understand the hole better than anyone so they are experts. The first principle of lateral thinking is to realize that a dominant idea is an obstacle to progress. This is summed up by Albert Einstein:

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. We must achieve a new level of thinking. We must not cease our exploration and the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time."

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