An observation while returning home from a seminar: Getting away from the everyday allows room for analysis and new thoughts. Stimulation while away from the everyday energizes analytical and concept ional thinking.

The above observation was formulated in-flight while attempting my normal travel timekiller, enjoying reading a popular adventure novel. But stimulating thoughts from the two-day seminar I attended kept intruding on my recreational reading. So I put down my book and started reviewing my notes and workbook. I spent the next two hours engaged studying and considering ways I might put the knowledge I gained to good use, amazed at the energy and focus I was putting into the process.

Three things gave me that energy and focus: Absence, Change, and Immersion.

? Absence from normal schedules, normal people, normal workload

? Change to new location, new people, a learning environment

? Immersion into two days devoted to one subject presented in a logical, energized, entertaining manner

By the time the plane landed I had written pages of notes, schedules, and diagrams. I am now implementing some of the projects I wrote down while on that plane and integrating them into my conscious efforts. I never would have developed those concepts had I not gone to that seminar. Yes, I could have turned off the phone, cleared my schedule and devoted a couple hours a day to work on that topic by myself, but I never do that. Maybe it is a personal quirk but taking time for conceptual thought is just not on my internal radar screen when I am in my familiar surroundings, living and working my normal schedule.

It is the act of purposefully leaving that normal world (Absence), entering a new world (Change), and being totally engaged (Immersion) that leads to the Stimulation necessary to jump-start the thought process. The seminar worked for me, it might take something completely different for you to find your creative muse.

This week's "Front Lines Challenge" is to find a way to stimulate your creative spirit. Progress doesn't happen by doing the same old thing the same old way. Stimulate yourself. Energize and focus your thinking

Larry Galler coaches high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses to extraordinary acheivement. He is a long-term business owner, a ten-year business coach and consultant, speaker, and columnist.

For more information email him - larry@larrygaller.com

http://www.larrygaller.com