Page 81 - THE DO-IT-YOURSELF LOBOTOMY Open Your Mind to Greater Creative Thinking

72 TOOLS FOR THE JOB OF THINKING CREATIVELY

If Nomar used the mechanics he learned from his physical trainer
only once or twice, would he expect big results? Certainly not. And
would Nomar use these mechanics if they were difficult to use, com-
plex, and time-consuming? Well, he probably would, because he’s an
extraordinarily driven athlete. But for the average person, the break-
ing down of the physical mechanics into simple, easy-to-use, fool-
proof tools is the most effective pathway to success. That is why I
have synthesized basic aspects of the creative thinking processes into
very uncomplicated elements, given them simple mechanics (and I
use the term loosely), easy-to-remember descriptive names, and
made them very easy to use in almost any situation.

UNIVERSAL TOOLS

In the same way that similar body movements can be used for different
activities (e.g., the hip motion used in hitting a baseball, swinging a golf
club, or throwing a javelin), similar mind mechanics can be used in cre-
ating web sites, exploring medical cures, and improving retail cus-
tomer service. That, of course, is why these tools are so universal—and
why they can be effective for you, no matter what field you are in.
For years I have been working with people, mostly (but not exclu-
sively) in business. These tools have been used effectively in food ser-
vice, technology, packaged goods, finance, entertainment...it might
be easier to name the fields in which these tools haven’t been applied.
Since the beginning, I have been getting feedback from individuals and
groups on how effective these tools have been for finding fresh ideas
and solving problems. I have personally witnessed or heard firsthand
accounts of literally thousands of cases where these tools helped people
think bigger and find better ideas. You can rest assured that this is not
just theory. This is the sharing of proven, effective methods of thinking
that you can bring to bear in your job and your life every day.

THE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE
DO-IT-YOURSELF LOBOTOMY

Every one of the tools we’re about to discuss will help you perform a
Do-It-Yourself Lobotomy, each in a somewhat different way. The com-
mon thread is that they are all designed to help you let go of what you
know. As we discussed conceptually in the opening chapters, attach-