Cartoons often portray the brain as a wrinkly glob of pulsating pink flesh that shoots lightning bolts of thought from one neuron to another, millions of times per second. That illustration, while it may be an exaggerated portrayal, is an indicator of what really goes on in the mind of the human being. Any sensation can stir up an entire library of images that place our attention on either the past or the future. Why so rarely in the present? I have my theories, but I want to avoid getting into it for now. I'll leave that topic for an article about monkish mind activity and super intergallactic one-ness.



Have you ever met a person who is completely business minded? Or rather, just plain "minded"? It becomes a bit obvious who these people are. I'm not a big Star Trek fan or anything, (and if I was, I would call it a guilty pleasure) but remember Data, the humanoid droid robot that hung with Jean Luc Picard and the gang? He was a perfect example of the non-human side of humans. While he was highly intelligent, task-efficient, and organized, he was incredibly uncreative, dorky, and emotion-less. Consider that he also had terrible luck with women.

There is a bigger mind that works within (or without?) our spongy little brains; the creative mind. The creative mind is 100% necessary for successful businesses. And don't say you are not creative, because that's the most uncreative thing you can say. The creative mind pushes the boundaries and may break rules at times, but that is how breakthroughs are made. You can never be a true leader by going strictly by somebody else's structure without your passion behind it.

It is essential for our minds to open up to the creative process when making business decisions. It helps us work more effectively, and solve problems. The creative process can be activated when our reasoning mind is paused for a moment, and becomes open to new ideas through imagination or visualization. It is possible to learn to quiet the chatter of the mind, bringing attention into the present moment. Many talk about how meditation has improved their creativity drastically for that reason.

Whether you think meditation is hokey or not, it is proven that being past-minded or future-minded drains energy and dispels concentration from the task at hand. After all, when does anything ever get accomplished? Only in the present. Tomorrow will always be tomorrow, and yesterday will never come into existence. Next time your mind is jumping from one loud thought to another, observe how it is completely detached from the present.

In business, it's important to have plans, of course. But make the plans now, and begin to accomplish those plans now. With the goal in mind, we do everything that can be done now that will bring us closer to accomplishing the goal. Then, everyday tasks are much more pleasurable in themselves, and not just a means to an end.

If there are roses, smell them. If there is an obstacle, welcome it. Give the present situation all of your attention. Real value is found in how much attention you give to the present moment. This is the sort of practice that will make building your business a pleasure, and you will be unstoppable when challenges arise.