A paper clip…

Tony Buzan, the inventor of Mind Mapping®, was recently giving an inspirational seminars in Dublin and took this opportunity to use the famous paper clip exercise, you know that question you’ve heard often  ‘how many things can you do with a paper clip?’ So here he is, with this room full of Irish folks, asking at once ‘Tell me, how many things can you do with a paper clip?’ A few hands were raised, ideas coming up to the floor, ‘Good.’ And then he asked the follow-up questions ‘how many things can’t you do with a paper clip?’ Now I was not in Ireland that day, I was still travelling but a very good friend of mine was in the room… and like Tony she was shocked to see a lot more hands raising, a lot more ideas coming up to the floor, a lot lot more…Tony Buzan, she told me, made a single comment … and translated in the local English, it sounded something like… ‘Gosh folks it’s time to get going over here and to start thinking you can?’ What is then needed to think can? Remember from a linguistic part, can’t means can do the process of not doing, and when you can’t you actually can, and as I can’t not drink coffee this morning, I clearly decide that I can do the process of not not drinking coffee, the same way that I can do the process of not not drinking tea… I agree coffee is easy and I don’t have any food allergy… Now I know readers you’re much better at it than I am and now you are already surprised how easy it is to can, so keep at it, stretch the box and step out.