Cedric Brown

Think of a time before you were a teen. I bet when you were a kid, there was always that one dream toy or dream clothes that you always wanted. I also bet that you used an old friend that today probably gets as much action as I do for the Detroit Tigers (none). You had no choice but to use this friend because every time you asked your parents for the real thing you were left with tears in your eyes or your bottom lip out there like Al Sharpton’s theories.

Now think about how this relates to how you live today. Some of you maybe still college students while others are real-world adults. You still find yourself desiring certain things, like that dream job right when you graduate, or that nice car that’s sure to make you look like you make more than a Fortune 500 CEO. Strangely enough, there’s still people out there who make excuses why you can’t have those things (and more than likely it’s not your parents). You still get those tears in your eyes and walk around looking like a sad puppy. The only difference is now that you don’t reach out to that old friend you leaned on as a kid. Instead, you just let life kick your teeth in and take your beatdown like the boring adult you were raised to be. So, who is this friend you’ve neglected, and what does this have to do with getting your way?

His/her name is imagination. You were once best buddies, but now you wouldn’t recognize it even if it hit you harder than Muhammed Ali in his prime. Sure, it doesn’t look anything like it used to, but it can actually come in handy today. That’s because, you’re not the only one who’s been growing up these past few years. Your long lost buddy wasn’t just collecting dust like an old book. He/she too has been maturing while you were taking your real-world butt-kicking. It’s even taken a new name: Innovation.

What’s the difference? Whereas your imagination was mostly used to create unrealistic fantasies, innovation combines your childhood creativity along with real-world limitations to create an idea, product or service. How can innovation help you today? By using it to help you get to where you want to be. Innovation isn’t nearly as complicated as rocket scientists make it out to be. Really, all it takes to be innovative is to do something different from what everyone else is doing while still being useful to others. Think of the Snuggie for instance. All that this is just a comfy bed blanket turned into a backwards robe. All the inventors did was capitalize on a problem that plagued couch potatoes everywhere! Now, they’re probably making millions selling those silly things in thousands of designs and colors.

You don’t have to create something new to be innovative. All it takes is doing something different. In my last post I talked about how you learn from your past to affect your present in order to create your future. Well you don’t have to do that alone. Your innovation can be used to help you get that dream job or that dream house. Do something different that you would’ve never thought of before. Break away from your daily routine and try something new, whether it be creating a website for your resume or creating new ways to save money towards that house. The best way to figure it out is by trial and error.

Speaking of that dream job: I’m still “jobless” in case you were wondering…..but I’m not worried. My innovation and I still have some tricks up our sleeves. Want to know what I’m talking about? You’ll just have to keep reading to find out….