Page 27 - THE DO-IT-YOURSELF LOBOTOMY Open Your Mind to Greater Creative Thinking

18 INTRODUCTION

The problem is that as we know more and more, we need to imag-
ine less, and the center of wonder between our ears gets less and less of
a workout. For many people, that part of the brain becomes virtually
atrophied. Add to that the incredible fear that is gripping people in
business today, the fear of doing or saying something wrong and being
passed over or even let go, and there is very little incentive for even try-
ing to think of new ideas.
It’s a sad state of affairs. Because certainly the incentive for having
new ideas is accomplishment, even greatness. Since the beginning of
time the highest achievers have been willing to stick their necks out,
along with their minds, to push toward forward-thinking ideas. The
great irony is that, although the rate of change and the need for a con-
stant flow of new ideas has never been greater, no generation before us
has ever been so reluctant to change. Why? Because no previous gen-
eration has been so well educated, had their heads filled with so much
knowledge, been so attached to what they know, and yet needed so badly
to let go of what they know.
Although many of the scared working stiffs of our generation are
trying to figure out the incentive for fresh thinking, they’re being
frowned on by management for their risk aversion and “stuckness” in
old ways of thinking.

THE BEST MANAGERS WANT FRESH THINKING

Weekly, I hear top managers lamenting the quality of creative thinking
they are getting from their people and the lack of inspired thinking
they’re seeing in the pool of potential employees.
Happily for people like yourself who are reading this book, you’ll
soon discover a way to let go of what you know whenever you want
to—to ramp up your creative thinking ability, to make your mind a
nimble, prolific creative idea generator—to give yourself a wealth of
the new currency that is driving business today like never before:
fresh ideas.
So sit back and enjoy the process of opening up your mind.
Embrace your Do-It-Yourself Lobotomy with open arms and an even
more open mind. When you’ve finished this book you’ll have the
insights and improved skills to be a better thinker than ever before.
You’ll be the master of a nimble, fertile mind—not just a mind filled