When You Look, What Do You See?
We all look at the same things, but a smaller number of people see those things differently. All of my life I’ve been fascinated with people who see things no one else can, and then act on it. As Pablo Picasso put it: “Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.” In a similar way, Arthur Schopenhauer said, “Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.” But we’re all looking at the same things, so what is it that clicks with some people?
For example Spencer Lanoue writes that:
One Saturday morning, Joan Ganz Cooney walked downstairs and saw her daughter staring at the television, waiting for programs to come on. From that observation came Sesame Street.
George de Mestral took his dog for a walk in a field, and when he got home his socks and shoes were covered in little prickly burrs. From that experience he invented Velcro.
When Percy Shaw was driving home one night he saw a cat’s eyes on the side of the road. After noticing that he invented the reflective road studs that you see on most highways and roads today.
Malcolm McLean was moving from one country to another, and he noticed it was taking a really long time to load all of his stuff. From that observation came the shipping container.
Starting today, become intentional about the things around you. Stop looking at the surface and begin thinking more deeply. At the same time, think about the projects you’re working on, the clients you serve, and the ideas rolling around in your head.
The 20th century created consumers, but the digital tools of the 21st century are creating creators. Start putting things together, and begin with ideas.
Once you start connecting things, you never know where it might end…
I am also fascinated by those working in their lane or zone that have amazing ideas. An answer to your question about “what clicks,” I would say, God’s gifts.
Please understand, I am not talking about “pie in the sky gifts” but real gifts that produce tangible relevant products.
God will anoint gifted people that are walking out their gifts by not looking for short cuts or seeming easy answers. But by never giving up, no matter what they need to do to grow in wisdom and God’s grace, the solid way, within the gifts they have been given. The prize for this faithful growing is anointed wisdom that produces amazing products that are real and relevant during the time they are produced.
One more observation about God’s brilliant gifting process. It seems one can walk in their gifts even if they are not overtly religious.
Great thoughts Neil. Thanks for posting!
Thanks Phil.
Another idea for a Blog might be how Gifts can conflict with each other because of the differences in focus of each gift.
Amazingly those with gifts that conflict can be alarmed at each other to the point that they throw rocks at each other. Fighting within the body of Christ of course is counter productive and needs to be mitigated by understanding how God is using the others gift’s to reach people perhaps the other person cannot reach.
Interesting subject.
I am also fascinated by those working in their lane or zone that have amazing ideas. An answer to your question about “what clicks,” I would say, God’s gifts.
Please understand, I am not talking about “pie in the sky gifts” but real gifts that produce tangible relevant products.
God will anoint gifted people that are walking out their gifts by not looking for short cuts or seeming easy answers. But by never giving up, no matter what they need to do to grow in wisdom and God’s grace, the solid way, within the gifts they have been given. The prize for this faithful growing is anointed wisdom that produces amazing products that are real and relevant during the time they are produced.
One more observation about God’s brilliant gifting process. It seems one can walk in their gifts even if they are not overtly religious.