When you imagine how some of the greatest innovators dreamed up their ideas, how do you picture it happening? Were they so busy with writing reports or doing paperwork that took up their entire day and while they were diligently working they randomly thought of a world changing idea? I doubt it. Sometimes you need to slow down and stop everything to really think. People are afraid to do this because it looks like they’re wasting time. It looks like inefficient work. It looks like something that will get you fired.
After this paragraph, I want you to pretend you are reading this blog post. While you’re gazing through the screen, just think. Think about that project you’re working on. Think about a crazy new idea for your business or for your personal life. Think about anything. In the comments, after you’re done, share what you thought about and any ideas you came up with.
3…2…1…go!
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This is why Google gives their employees 20% of their day to do whatever they want. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that 50% of their new innovations have come from employees 20% time. ROWE environments work, and companies are starting to prove it. Knowing they’re trusted, employees work hard to get their work done so they have spare time to think. And guess what? If they think of something they’ll log back on in the evening when they DON’T HAVE to work and contribute. It’s the nature of the beast.
Ah, the beauty of unplugging. Thinking and imagining are not the same thing.
For so many of us, even if we love a job, the routine and rhetoric of our systems and “job duties” make it so hard to stop and think about what could be rather than what is. We’re so desperate to just make it thru that we begin just putting in the orders.
In addition to 20% time I also think Americans should seriously look into the idea of siestas/naps. I get some of my best ideas after a 20 minute re-juice on Saturday afternoon!
Carlos, I love how you pick up on differences like that. I think “imagine” may encompass what I was hoping for people to do best. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m with you, man. I’m all for building in time in employees’ schedules for matters like this (3M is another). It’s like you said, the secret is motivating them to use this time effectively.