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Hang Empty Birdcages in Your Mind!! |
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In his book, Go for the Magic, Orlando Magic Senior Executive Vice President Ted Williams tells a story about creativity that applies to everyone in business: The famous scientist Charles Kettering used to refer to creative thinking as “hanging birdcages in the mind.” Here’s why: Kettering once made a bet with his friend, Joe. “I bet you $100 that I can make you buy a pet bird within a year from today,” Kettering said. “Charlie,” Joe responded, “what in the world would I do with a pet bird?” “Is it a bet or not?” asked Kettering. “You’re on,” said his friend. A few days later Kettering visited his friend, and brought with him a beautiful, ornate birdcage, handcrafted in Switzerland. “This is for the bird you are going to buy,” said Kettering. Joe replied, “I’m not buying a bird!” “We’ll see,” replied Kettering. Since the birdcage was so beautiful, Joe hung it in his dining room. Every time he entertained people, they would invariably ask, “When did your bird die?” And every time, he would respond, “I never had a bird.” At which point his guests, puzzled, would ask him why in the world he had a birdcage. Finally, after this kept happening time after time, Joe went out and bought a parakeet. The bird cost him $102 -- $2 for the bird and $100 for his friend, to pay off the wager. As he paid Kettering, Joe explained why he caved in: “It was easier to just buy the bird than to keep explaining that stupid empty cage you gave me.” Kettering, reflecting on the incident years later, said: “If you hang birdcages in your mind, you eventually get something to put in them.” The things we put in those “birdcages of the mind” are called IDEAS!!!!! |
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