Big ideas can help
you turn your vision into a reality.
Leaders that make a
difference are "big thinkers." They know that seeing things others
can't see is not only a quality of leadership, it is a responsibility.
Being a big thinker
means being part pragmatist and part mystic. It is having a vision. This talent
is not as rare as you might think, and is as much an attitude as it is an
aptitude.
Thinking big is to
see people, places and things as better and BIGGER than they see themselves. As
a visionary leader, you'll find beauty where others do not, you'll seek
opportunity where others find only problems and you'll see answers where others
haven't yet recognized the questions.
Big thinkers use
their visionary capabilities to expand the scope of their missions. To learn to
think big is to rake the first step toward big results.
Creativity, Imagination, Faith
and Vision
Learning to
"think big" requires creativity and imagination, abilities that are
very distinct from the simple capacity to acquire knowledge or recall
information. It is taking a simple idea, looking at it in terms of your
mission, and thinking about what could be, IF...
Albert Einstein once observed
that imagination is "something more important than knowledge." It is
learning to give your ideas a life of their own and the freedom to grow.
To think creatively
in this manner, you have to learn to give yourself permission to let your
imagination flow.
Big thinkers are
always looking for new ways of doing things. Learn to never reject an idea
immediately or automatically. The most creative leaders allow their minds to
give all possibilities an equal chance.
There is the story
about a basic school teacher who asks a child what she is drawing. "I'm
drawing a picture of God," the child replies.
"But,
sweetheart," says the teacher, "no one knows what God looks
like." Answers the little girl:
"They will in
a minute!"
Now that is
thinking big… Isn’t it?
True leaders
possess a similar, child-like faith. Not a "childish" faith, which
lacks maturity and understanding, but a mature belief in themselves and others.
The sought of faith four guys,
from our little Jamaica, had back in the mid 1980’s having decided to enter a
bobsled team in the Olympics. They trained, entered and I dare say competed
with success in the 1988 Winter Olympics Games.
Those guys where
big thinkers.
If you are a big
thinker, you have faith in your own God-given skills, talents and abilities.
More importantly, you have a faith in others and a desire for them to do well,
to make a contribution and to have a meaningful life.
Your faith in them
can make a world of difference in how they perform because your faith acts as a
catalyst, giving them confidence in themselves and the courage to take on new
responsibilities.
Vision in its most
exalted form reaches even beyond the limits of imagination. It is "a
waking dream" that has no boundaries with endless possibilities.
Seeing
Invisible Challenges
Vision is the art of seeing
things invisible. Seeing the good things in life is a matter of looking beyond
all the other distractions, frustrations and disappointments. Beyond what is
superficial, fleeting and negative are the things of substance, the things that
endure, the things that truly matter. Making a difference often means seeing
invisible challenges.
When circumstances
keep people from developing and achieving, a big thinker becomes a leader who
points out a new direction. People will follow when your vision inspires them
and adds meaning to their lives.
In fact, today's
world is changing so fast, and the amount of information we must assimilate
daily has increased so much that leaders need to be able to see beyond the
information clutter. Their big ideas can help simplify what needs to be done
into a goal others can strive for.
The leader who has a goal and works to
achieve that goal helps people to see beyond just today. Offering a vision of
the future greatly influences human behavior. Your vision may anticipate needs,
express concerns or identify common goals. But with a vision, you can motivate
people and give them something to aim for that is beyond their own interests.
When you do, your big thinking can help them to help others make a difference.
Beyond
the Conceivable
There are millions
of ideas waiting to be discovered and acted on by big thinkers. A writer once
said, "the universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our
wits to grow sharper." Just one new idea can change the world. So Think
Big.
Your Club, your
School, Jamaica and the world at large need your BIG ideas and your idealism. We
have negative, narrow thinking in abundance, and more than enough cynics. We
need only to listen to the media or read the newspapers to see and hear all the
negativism that surrounds us. What Jamaica need are more persons who can look
for the brave and the beautiful where others see nothing. We need big thinkers
to nourish the imagination of others and help them to expand their own creative
powers. People who will change our frequently used expression “Nutt’en naaw
gwaan” to “Big Things a gwaan!”
Thinking big is a
key to creative leadership. Successful leaders heed the biblical injunction:
"where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18)
In closing let me leave with you five
Strategies for Big Thinkers
1. Check
your assumptions and expectations periodically. Your reach should always exceed
your grasp.
2. Work
to develop and define your personal philosophy. It is a growing, living thing.
3. Challenge
tradition and the prevailing wisdom. Don't accept the status quo.
4. Nurture
curiosity, both in yourself and others. It is a source of innovation.
5. Look
for simplicity whenever possible. The most powerful visions are easy to
communicate and understand.
Thank
you and God bless.
Originally delivered to Mona High School Key Club May 19, 2005
