You become a creator, not an enhancer…
You dismiss the boundaries set by your perceived limit in conception when you allow your vision room to breathe. It has become very easy for me to learn an array of ideas, methods, philosophies and so much more because the lack of seen references alters the beauty of learning something for the first time. Experts say the most formidable and imperative stages of a human are in their early years between the ages of 2 to 5, why? That age is full of experience and testing limits freely because that child is not restricted by their past or fears. The same goes for my sight. I am free to think big because when it pertains to new projects, there is nothing recent to make me feel as though it cannot be done. Everything you see today started with a thought which means the physical realization of that thing is the furthest extent of the originators creativity. The Wright Brothers wanted to fly and now everything that came after their original conception will be a variation of that original model. No one can ever take their idea and make a new one, they will only be able to replicate variations of it when it pertains to any airborn vehicle. When you can produce something out of nothing you have the right to call yourself a creator.
When you allow your vision to exceed your sight…
I was recently asked to produce a concept for an airline within their digital, experiential strategy. I jumped at the opportunity because by losing one key faculty I utilize other senses to navigate when experiencing different things. Experiential marketing has become a popular trend because if you want something to resonate with an individual you have to provide a full sensory encounter felt by the entire body. This goes beyond relying on one sense to understand or adapt. It requires more focus and dedication from our bodies to adopt something new or foreign than something attainable which you are more inclined to retain because of the output of effort. Look at it this way. Have you ever read a book, listened to a lyrically inclined song or recalled a passage of text and closed your eyes to do so? We all do because it is our bodies natural reflex to shut down any unnecessary distractions to focus on the pertinent information within our active conscious. Now imagine the ability to consume information audibly without the dependence of sight.
In tune with energy…
Many people overlook basic instinctual tools within business. That gut feeling is energy. The ability to predict a trend based off of data, accurately, is energy from the sustained knowledge needed for mental activity. The sense that a co-worker, boss or client might have doubt about that proposal you showed them… energy. Most people, with sight, overlook what they don’t see with what they do. Have you ever said something and realized after the fact that it might have been the wrong thing at the wrong time based off someone’s reaction? That’s because it takes someone that is in tune with their senses to notice someone else’s i.e. when we label those “sensitive”. Billionaires, inventors and great leaders are all able to sense something most don’t, we just call it instinct. That’s why they are successful. They either sensed something quicker or better than the rest because they were able to immerse their entire selves and focus all their energy to become an expert as the law of 10,000 expresses. This might seem unconventional and require some practice but the next time you are in the middle of an intense conversation try closing your eyes and focusing on not only what someone is saying, but tone, inflection, pauses, intensity and context. You might garner a broader understanding that’s beneficially intentional for the direction of the conversation.
In no way do I want to glorify being blind. Quite frankly, living in this world is not conducive for the physically challenged community and it is only due to recent advancements in technology that we are warranted the same opportunities as our counterparts but there is still a long ways to go. I want to highlight that what most lack in physical ability they make up substantially in mental and emotional capabilities. Emotional intelligence is so important right now because it does not matter how much effort you put in you are only as effective as your ability to communicate that idea not by force but by relationship. It is one of the things I had to learn when I became blind. If I am unable to accomplish something efficiently I have to enhance my interpersonal skills to be effective and so do brilliant others in my position. This extends far beyond the disabled community… give people opportunities beyond what you SEE on paper. You might miss out on the change agent your VISION needs to take you to the next level.