Imagination, Growth and George Carlin

"If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play" (John Cleese).

George Carlin, a controversial and often times vulgar comedian, had a basic idea in one of his stand-up routines- parents allow too much electronic entertainment and over-schedule activities for their children. Carlin makes a strong point that "each kid should be made to sit in a room, by themselves, and look out the window for 15 minutes each day so they can exercise their imagination".

What can creativity, imagination and "free time" do for us as coaches?

Planning/Prioritizing: before "putting your nose to the grindstone" each morning, spend 10-15 minutes looking at the day and week ahead of you; prioritize your tasks, plan for upcoming projects, review deadlines, etc.

Strategizing/Projects & Action Steps: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Before diving into a project, allow some time to think about the 'big picture'. Brainstorm ideas on paper, talk to colleagues, do some research and think about a plan of attack.

Thinking & Creativity: What is one thing could you do (that you aren’t doing now) that if you did on a regular basis, would make a tremendous difference in your personal or professional life?