Who can forget the scene, when Mr. Miyagi is showing Daniel classic defensive Karate moves, through the process of waxing a car. Daniel did not understand the wisdom, therefore, he could not see the value of waxing a car, when he wanted, and needed, to learn Karate quickly.

This is frequently the process that God uses in our lives, to develop character that is very much related to discipline. “But Lord, why should I do this? I can’t see how this relates to my career or aspirations. How is this helping my life? What is the point in doing this, over and over again?

Many of us have learned from practical experience that if we are going to reach any significant goal we will have to leave our comfort zone. Are you ready to launch out in the deep?  Wax on – Wax off.

What is purpose? Myles Monroe states that purpose is the original in-tention for the creation of a thing. Purpose is the need that makes a manufacturer produce a specific product therefore purpose precedes production. Purpose is the expectation of the source. When you dis-cover your purpose you discover your potential.

The phrase “draws them out” is a form of speech known as an idiom. The literal Hebrew refers to a bucket that is dangled or lowered into a well to draw out water. So the original language uses a play on words, referring to deep waters (purposes of the heart) and a bucket lowered to “draw them out.”

This same Hebrew word for purposes is translated in other verses as plans, advice, counsel, strategy and prediction. A loose paraphrase of this verse emphasizing the meaning of this Hebrew word could be, “The guidance needed to make decisions and plan for the future God has ordained within a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.”

God has put His purposes in your heart. And they are like deep waters. You will need to be a man or woman of understanding to draw them out.

You can create personal wealth. It’s possible to meet your financial goals. By choosing to budget, save and invest, you can pay off debt,send your child to college, buy a comfortable home, start a business,save for retirement and put money away for a rainy day. Through budgeting, saving and investing, and by limiting the amount of debt you incur, all these goals are within your reach.

Some people consider themselves wealthy because they live in a very expensive house and travel around the globe. Others believe they are wealthy simply because they’re able to pay their bills on time. What we are talking about here is financial wealth and what it means to you.

Free Wealth Building Book - you will need the free adobe pdf reader.

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I’m always amazed at how many people I meet who say they aren’t terribly creative. For starters, it’s not true. Perhaps they’re not as creative now as they were when they were children, but the reality is – every human has the capacity to be creative. It’s part of our DNA. Cave dwellers painted on walls, while animals of all kinds participate in play. You could say the world is one gigantic playground.

And yet, many adults have forgotten how to play. It’s understandable. Life is about work, getting things done, and taking care of others. Life is about responsibilities and decisions and the never-ending ploy to squeeze more effort into more hours in the day. Play, naturally, takes a back seat.

But one could also argue that the most successful people are also the most creative. The entrepreneur who hits it big. The clever engineer who solves a tricky problem. The resourceful non-profit executive who works with limited resources. Those who apply their creative minds to solving problems and offering alternative options often get rewarded in ways that far surpass the average worker or individual. In other words, if you want greater success, first be more creative.

How do you go about rediscovering your inner child? You must re-learn it. Here are seven useful ways to get in the “mood.”

Accept and Even Embrace Failure. That’s right. Learn from your mistakes. How does that help creativity? Because it frees you from having to do things the “right” way. When I paint, I fail a lot. Sometimes I mix terrible combinations of color which become mud. Other times I screw up the look of a shadow. The reality is – I often have to fail to see what works or to learn something new. Go ahead. Fail. Failure is learning and from learning comes new approaches.

Mix Odd Combinations. Artists and engineers do this all the time. So do chefs. Someone combines a running shoe with an iPod. The result? A smart shoe that keeps track of running times. Get in the habit of joining things that normally aren’t put together. Who cares if the combination doesn’t at first make sense. That’s not the goal. The goal is to get into the habit of seeing the world differently and playing around.

Go for Volume. To be more creative, you must expand on the number of ideas you have. Too many times we look for one or two solutions to a problem when there may be hundreds. Get in the habit of always looking for 10 different options to any one problem, opportunity or situation. In other words, if someone asks you to come up with a new way of distributing your product, give them 10 alternatives instead of two. More importantly, don’t evaluate the quality of those options initially. Don’t limit yourself. It’s more important you seek out as many alternatives as you can think of.

Thicken Your Skin. Creativity and innovative thinking often makes other people uncomfortable. For example, have you ever introduced a new idea at a staff meeting, only to suddenly feel a cold chill in the room? Chances are you won’t introduce a new idea to that group again. But that’s wrong. You should be able to introduce new ideas effortlessly and without shame. It takes some fortitude, though. Start small and build up your confidence. Get used to the idea of offering ideas. Get people to trust you that regardless of the quality of the idea, the act of generating something new is worthwhile and valuable.

Feed the Beast. Not sure you can display your newfound creativity in your current workplace? Find another outlet instead. Leap into a more creative pursuit in the arts. Do it because it’s fun, not because you need to make a living or impress your friends. What you may discover is that your newfound artistic bent will start to spill over into your professional pursuits, resulting in more creative decision making.

Use the Tools. You can’t build a house without some basic tools, so why should you expect to be more creative without taking advantage of some of the tools that are available. For example, Brainwriting (the technique where you write down each thought) is an excellent tool for creative thought. Similarly, visualization (where you simply imagine an action taking place) is one of the most creative tools at your disposal. Do a Google search for innovation or creativity tools and try some of them.

You Are What You Think. If you think that you are creative, then you will act in accordance with that self-belief. As one motivational speaker once said, “You are what you think about most of the time.” Remind yourself that you have creative abilities and then confirm that belief in simple, effective ways. Be creative quietly and without fanfare. Prove to yourself that this is something that is actually pretty easy for you to do.

It’s okay to be a child again, or rather – to think like a child. Children have fun with make-believe. They let their imaginations run wild. Why? Because it’s fun and rewarding. You can do the same. You can be creative. You can have fun, regardless of your profession or lot in life. In the process, what you may discover is that your newfound creative bent elevates you in your profession in ways you never imagined.

Gene Pinder is the director of marketing for Centennial Campus, an award-winning research park at NC State. He also teaches innovative thinking to graduate students.

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“Effective leadership is the only competitive advantage that will endure. That’s because leadership has two sides – what a person is (character) and what a person does (competence).” – Stephen Covey

“I believe that you get greater effectiveness in your work when you tie people’s personal mission with the corporate mission.” Richard Barrett, former values coordinator at the World Bank as quoted in the Globe and Mail, June 11, 1999 p.M1.

“Where there is no leadership the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14

“A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men.” Thomas Carlyle

“Leadership is an engine for creative change.”

“People first, strategy second.” The motto of successful CEOs, Fortune, June 21,1999. p.74.

“Leadership . . . consists of the principles, skills, and attitudes that harness and integrate knowledge, trust and power.” – D.E. Zand in Leadership Triad: Knowledge, Trust, and Power. p. 5.

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