Why Not Start with an OPEN Mind instead of the END in Mind?

"Magic happens when you cooperate with creativity instead of try to control it." - Sam Horn

I learned the importance of starting with an OPEN mind at a photography workshop at Monet's Garden in France.

The instructors - Charles Needle, Dewitt Jones and Jack H. Davis - and everyone else in the workshop had years of experience. They wore impressive vests with pockets for their different lens and pulled carry-ons stocked with tripods and assorted gear. I was the rube of the group, armed solely with my trusty iPhone.

The good news? Those renowned photographers are all fans of the smart phone's ability to allow almost anyone to create gee-whiz images right out of the gate.

My big lesson? Instead of following Dr. Stephen Covey's advice to "Start with the end in mind," I discovered there are times it's better to "Start with an open mind.

Here's what I mean.

We took a field trip to historical Notre Dame Collegiate Church, built centuries ago. Charles told us that in addition to its magnificent stained glass windows, there was magic inside if we kept our eyes open. So I walked in and kept my antenna up for things that got my eyebrows up - a sure sign of intrigue.

I saw the sun glowing on a baptismal and thought, "THAT'S interesting" and snapped a picture. The image was nothing special but it was a start. As Dewitt loves to say, "There is more than one right answer" ... so I kept playing in search of other answers.

What if I get closer and hold my camera above the bowl? Wow. Look at that!! I kept experimenting, letting my gut be my guide. Charles told us, "You have permission to play. With digital cameras, there are no penalties. No expensive mistakes. You can have as many do-overs and fresh starts as you'd like."

Little gasps of delight filled the cathedral as we all witnessed the coalescing of beautiful - and unexpected images - coming into focus. I found myself laughing out loud with the sheer joy of what was materializing in front of my eyes.

One of the many joys of digital photography is you can create something that didn't exist a moment before. Little could I have predicted when I first saw the sun glowing on that baptismal, it would turn into an incredibly evocative blue/green/gold abstract prism.

This, of course, is a metaphor waiting to happen. What's a project or venture you're launching; a trip you're considering; an adventure you're planning?

Are you starting with the END in mind? Are you charting your course and planning every little detail? Do you have your destination and route locked in?

Have you ever sconsidered that controlling every aspect of a project makes you creatively myopic? It's like wearing blinkers that block out innovation.

Instead you might want to:

1. Understand you don't have to KNOW TO GO. For some people, if they're not 100% clear HOW to do something, they don't do it at all. Entrepreneurs do the opposite of that. They follow Buckminster Fuller's advice and "Dare to be a beginner." They know that one way of the best ways to discover how to do something is to set it in motion and learn along the way. They know that sometimes the best way to know ... is to go.

2. Playing with what wants to happen (instead of planning what you want to happen) leaves space for Serendipity. Pre-planning prevents serendipity because you've got blinders on that prevent you from seeing options that crop up in the moment. When, instead, you stay alert to - and act on - unexpected possibilities, your work is elevated to a whole other level. Now, you're cooperating with creativity instead of trying to control it. For example, there's no way I could have imagined that prism image when I started, I didn't even know it existed. It was a result of being willing to "play" instead of rigidly sticking to a plan.

3. Keep your antenna up for what gets your eyebrows up. When something intrigues you, experiment with it. Exploration is the origin of innovation. When Einstein was asked how he worked, he said, "I grope." When you're captivated by fresh possibilities and connect dots in unscripted intuitive ways, you create something that's better than anything you could have imagined. You've produced something new as a result of partnering with the moment.

Back to you. What is a project you'd like to run with? A trip you'd like to take? An activity you'd like to try?

Does the "practical" person in you immediately think of all the ways this won't work instead of all the ways it could work? Are you delaying your start because you don't know what you're doing - or you don't have all your ducks in a row?

Why not switch to an OPEN mind? Instead of waiting until you know what you're doing, why not trust that miracles await if you do your half and set things in motion?

Who knows what good you can achieve if you give thinks a chance? (Yes, that's intentional.)

Remember, projects in your head help no one. Start with an open mind. Be alert to what shows up. Welcome what unfolds. Whatever happens will be better than doing nothing.

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Sam Horn, CEO of the INTRIGUE AGENCY, is on a mission to help people create quality projects that add value for all involved. Her TEDx talk and keynotes receive raves from such clients as Intel, Cisco, NASA, Accenture,Capital One. Her books - POP!, Tongue Fu!, and Washington Post bestseller Got Your Attention? - have been featured in New York Times and NPR. Want Sam to speak to your group? Contact Cheri@IntrigueAgency.com.