Employing the Creative Power of Your Imagination

“Imagination is more important than knowledge,” believed Albert Einstein. Do you agree? And if you do, do you understand why? In today’s article, let’s explore the power of our imagination.

What is imagination?

Imagination is “the faculty of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.” The word derives from the Latin imaginari, meaning “to form an image of,” or “to picture oneself.” When you imagine, you often star in a movie in your head. Can you imagine flying high in the air, looping around the building you’re in, and looking at yourself from the outside? Close your eyes for a moment and imagine it. It’s easy, isn’t it?

Why use imagination?

“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless,” said the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. When utilizing the faculty of our imagination, there are no limits. Nothing is impossible. We are free to explore the most unrealistic and surreal situations. In this way, we can work on our biggest problems and envision possible futures:

Albert Einstein imagined himself riding on a ray of light, which led to the redefinition of time and space described in the theory of special relativity.

Many of the most successful sports figures, before entering into a competition, imagined how events might unfold. Although the thoughts never exactly predicted reality, the imagined events prepared the contestants to quickly decide on correct actions, even in the heat of competition. As Muhammad Ali said, “The man who has no imagination has no wings.”

The most visionary business leaders know how to use their imaginations, too. Walt Disney brought potential investors to a spot in Anaheim, California, to describe a large entertainment park to be built in a place where the investors only saw orange groves and walnut trees. After Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Imagine better

Here are three ways to strengthen and use your imagination:

Daydream. Take a break and withdraw to a quiet, relaxing space. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and let your mind drift for five minutes anywhere it wants to go. Enjoy the journey, and watch and remember the images and other sensations that appear.

Imagine. Take ten minutes and go on an imagination trip. Unlike directionless daydreaming, decide where and how you want to go. For example, go back to your old high school, or take a ride through Bangkok on a giant elephant or in a Formula 1 car. Again, remember what you see and feel.

Experiment. For this you’ll need 30–60 minutes to yourself. Imagine yourself interacting with a problem, business case or challenge that you’ve already analyzed. Keep pen and paper handy to record any insights or ideas that you have, and continue the experiment until the time is up.

For example, two weeks ago, I spent 90 minutes walking, in my imagination, through the innovation center that my company Thinkergy plans to build. During the imagination experiment, I took notes of the useful ideas that occurred to me. Then I sketched these ideas, and used the sketches to brief a team of architects and interior designers on turning my vision and imagination into designs to show to potential investors.

At the end of your imagination exercises, notice how you feel. You will probably feel good, and satisfied — and really tired, as imagination requires a lot of mental energy. As Henry Ford said, “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few people engage in it.”

Your imagination

Take a few moments to examine your relationship with your imagination:

How much of the day do you spend in front of a computer or looking at other types of “screens”? How often do you permit your mind to just drift off?

When was the last time that you let yourself daydream? What would happen if you closed your eyes at work and did nothing for 5 minutes?

Have you ever used your imagination in your work? Have you ever imagined delivering a pitch before calling a client, or imagined various solutions to a difficult business problem? How close did the actual experience come to the imagined one? And did the act of imagination contribute to success?

You can’t afford not to imagine

Given the choice between imagination and knowledge, most businesspeople will favor knowledge. But in our economic evolution, we are moving from the information age to the age of creation. It’s time to reconsider Einstein’s advice at the beginning of this article, and also his statement that “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Isn’t now the best time to apply the power of imagination to create a successful future for your business and yourself?

Employing the creative power of your imagination