Inception

In Christopher Nolan’s screenplay titled Inception, actor Leonardo DiCaprio attempts to plant an idea into the mind of a young CEO by entering into his dreams. The movie has many fascinating elements to it, including the concept that an organically-created thought within the individual goes on to define oneself for a lifetime.

I was reflecting upon Inception when preparing to explain the genesis of this blog, thinking there were some parallels, including the concepts of the origin of a thought, the importance of dreams, and defining one’s life. Allow me to explain.

The Origin of a Thought

The genesis of the thought of a blog started last summer, at a reunion of colleagues from a counseling clinic in Orange County California, where I live. One of my friends, Kevin Buck of Emergent Success, had branched out of family counseling and into executive coaching.  He asked me the simple but powerful consulting question… “So, what would you regret not doing with your life?” My answer was on the tip of my tongue: to write a book on management consulting skills for those working within an employee assistance program.

The Importance of Dreams

Kevin’s challenge to me at the party could have been dismissed as just idle chatter, but I couldn’t shake loose the thought that I had been blessed with some great mentors and excellent training in management consulting, but had no outlet for “paying it forward.” I have fulfilled many of my dreams to date… career success, enjoying every day of a 20-year marriage, parenthood, university professor. What was left in dream state was author. Could I… no, would I, make the effort of time, preparation and networking to bring the dream into reality?

Defining One’s Life

Drawing from the movie Inception, the seed of a thought planted by my friend has brought my focus to writing, starting with this blog and a trade journal column that I will discuss in my next blog entry. For now, I’m enjoying the energy and inspiration generated by the writing process.

I promise to make future entries more practical and less poetic, but don’t all works of passion come from the Inception of an idea?

What Great Idea Are You Percolating?

Let me know what creative thing you have been pondering about by using the Comment button below…