Back in my Director days…it was always fun to go to Lansing or Detroit or Mt. Pleasant for some form of agency meeting and show up at the office the next morning with at least one new cool concept.  I would use different methods to give the idea a “trial-run” with the gang…just to measure the engagement – level with each person.  And it was always fun to have them believe that the concept/idea was somehow generated by inspiration I attained from the meeting/training I attended.

Guess what…rarely was that the driver.  Instead, it was the special quiet, lengthy Thinking & Dreaming Time I had while driving to and from the event.

I believe one of the most valuable/critical/motivational professional development tools is DEDICATED…PERSONAL Thinking & Dreaming Time.  For me I used the one-two-or three hours of drive time that was available every week.  During that period, I was on the job…but I allowed myself to regularly go beyond what was…and dream about what could be.  There were no interruptions (remember this was before cell phones took over), so my thoughts and dreams had no limitation influence and I just allowed myself to go way beyond anything that was considered regular.

Bottomline: Thinking & Dreaming Time is a development activity that must be individually organized and managed totally in order to be effective.  Professional development is a personal responsibility, so carve out quality Thinking & Dreaming Time…use it well…and appreciate the results.