At the end of our workshop this week, one of the attendees, who works as a teacher told me she felt so relieved to know that there were so many creative income options for her to pursue. She explained that she felt so locked into her career in the past because she had not taken the time to evaluate other opportunities that match her interests and abilities. She’s not alone. Many people feel trapped in their jobs, simply because their first assumption is that they’re not qualified for anything else. The key word here is “assumption”. People tend to assume many times before they take the time to think about and evaluate a situation. Unfortunately, in this day and age we are not taught to think creatively. From the time we enter school, we’re taught to think inside a box, i.e. follow the rules, color inside the lines, and make good grades. Maybe this is why Mark Twain once said, “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Most people today automatically stay inside the lines of traditional thinking. A person’s situation can only be solved if he is willing to think outside the box. Unfortunately, far too many people are willing to impose limitations on themselves. Inventor Charles Kettering once said, “All human development, no matter what form it takes, must be outside the rules; otherwise, we would never have anything new.” When coaching or giving workshops on creative income, it’s always fun to see clients get those “AHAH!” moments. That’s the point where the walls of traditional thinking start crumbling all around them. The limitations are gone and they’re free to explore this great big world of opportunity! For Creative Income Ideas, click here! Here’s a simple exercise, to see if you’re a creative thinker. Print this out and draw four straight lines through all the dots without lifting your pen. ... ... ... Here’s a hint: it can only be accomplished if you’re willing to draw outside the box!

To access the links in this article, visit www.careercalling.com/Archives.htm and read edition July 29, 2005.