A few fun things happened this morning. First off I got to go to the airport with a great friend, Bekah, who was the one who ha to be at the airport at 4am. So after seeing her off on her flight I was scrolling around on Facebook And an elderly gentleman came up to me asking if he could borrow a pen. He was probably 75.... And as kindly as I can say it, an old 75. I of course said yes, and he said he would return it in a moment minus a few drops of ink. I returned to my scrolling and soon he asked me if I was a Veterinarian as I was wearing my Parelli Logo'd jacket. I laughed and said no.... I couldn't hack it as pre-vet in college so I chose psychology. Well that caused him to promptly sit down and begin to talk to me in earnest!
He began by saying its not your fault, it's our colleges. He said our brains are designed to take in information that we can currently, quickly and successfully apply to real world situations. Not to sit and listen to a lecture. He said that our colleges are designed all wrong... And instead of attempting to teach people ThINGS.... We should instead be attempting to teach them HOW to think differently, independently, and creatively, how to stand out and be seen for our ideas and our unique perspective on the world.
"Wow!" I said... I completely agree, and what an amazing perspective you have! I appreciate you for sharing it with me!
He then launched into another story.... He casually mentioned his 13 different mechanical and electrical engineering patents and his honorary doctorate from Clemson, not in an effort to drop names or impress me, but truly in a genuine way.... Sharing his life and his story.
He began to tell me about his most recent endeavor in electrical engineering. He had been approached by the US Navy with a conundrum. Apparently the navy had granted a team of people in Oregon 11 million dollars to find a project. 7 million dollars later they returned to the Navy saying that the technology didn't exist. So the Navy called the elderly man I met because of his patents and expertise in the area. This gentleman related to me how he put together a team of three people.... Himself and two others, and for two weeks they sat together for a period of time every day... Throwing out every idea that they could think of surrounding the challenge. BUT they made completely sure that they in no way were trying to SOLVE the problem, simply throwing out concepts that relate to it, and being completely willing to listen to one another, not judge each others ideas, and be completely creative!
After two weeks they presented a plan to the US Navy that outlined how with just 3 million dollars they could create everything they wanted, including all the technology and equipment and have the whole system up and running, and they could have their last million back :)!
I was so a captivated by his story I just about missed my flight! Didn't catch his name.... But feel truly blessed for the universe allowing me to be in a space where I was ready to listen to the wisdom this man had to share.... At 5AM at the Greenville airport. I ran off to board, didn't catch his name and he didn't ask mine... But I'll remember his words, and have a new lease on embracing creativity and problem solving and of course allow for that life is perfect.... And nothing is a coincidence :)!
