Page 182 - The UnCaptive Agent

CHIEF COOK AND BOTTLE WASHER 155

and I’ve learned that the mind doesn’t like unanswered
questions. The brain will work on things it’s curious
about and questions with no answers subconsciously (in
other words, without you being aware of it), and you can
harness this power. Have you ever forgotten something
like a fact, name of person, or address, and suddenly
remembered later in a different circumstance? This is an
example of the phenomenon. What I do when I have a
tough problem to solve or need a creative solution that
isn’t readily apparent is ask myself How can I? I have
learned the answer will come soon enough and usually
when I’m not expecting it. I have learned to be on the
lookout for these insights.
The last thing I’ll mention regarding working on
the business is dreaming. You may be thinking that
dreaming isn’t work. If you do, perhaps you’d be right.
Many years ago, I had a friend who tried to convince
me that the hours he spent each week reading trade
periodicals and books was work. That seemed like a
leisure activity to me. However, I learned over time that
this kind of self-education, while pleasurable and not
particularly taxing, was very productive and necessary.
Dreaming is like that.
Dreaming is not goal setting. Goal setting is like
dreaming in that it has a futuristic component. But goals
have dates, numbers, and deadlines attached, whereas
dreams are a place where you can give yourself more
latitude. Dreams are incredibly powerful in fueling
performance. Dreams allow you to see a future that
may not seem obvious to you today. There is much to
dreaming and its power that is beyond this book, but
I will say that it is very hard for anyone to go further
than they are able to dream. I encourage you to regu-
larly dream about your business, its future, and what
you would like it to become.