I have been looking at what I think are great quotes concerning imagination.
“Imagination is everything.  It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Albert Einstein. “Imagination is the most marvellous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known” Napoleon Hill. “The best use of imagination is creativity, the worst use of imagination is anxiety.” Deepak Chopra.
All endeavour is born of imagination. The ones who explored new worlds imagined it and made it happen.  Those who start businesses imagine it and make it happen.  Even when I need to get something at the shops, I imagine it and do it. 
To me imagination is an incredibly powerful thing.  There are those who imagine something and have the means to do it.  There are also those who imagine something but do not have the means and set about getting them.
All are born with imagination.  Not all make worthwhile imaginings happen.  Some give up due to adversity, some need to modify due to hostile circumstances.  But I do believe that no matter how big or small, good imagined, can be produced in any place.
Like so much I do think imagination can be used to produce both good and bad.  All wars begin in the imagination.  All hatred begins in the same place.  All feel actions are justified but often they are not.  They are a choice to pursue destructive imaginings. The ramifications can be disastrous for individuals or millions.
I have heard it said the mind has trouble distinguishing the past real or imagined. The product of bad imaginings is all around and so is the good.  It is the good results I am wanting to ponder.  The cure for so many illnesses is the product of imaginings.  So often it seems learning produces imagination that asks why? And why not?
What I have found so amazing is that the more I learn the more diverse the imaginings are.  It is no wonder it is often said the more I know the more I realize I don’t know. 
Some imaginings are for others, and some are for me.
I like what Duane Michals said, “I believe in the imagination.  What I cannot see is infinitely more important than what I can see.”

This post is way later than it usually is. 
On days when I have no early activities (today is not such a day) I tried to do a post by 7am.  On days that have early activities I tend to post immediately I am able.
Today I sort of loitered.  I had an early place to be then as usual we had breakfast with a friend.  We love to chat and today it was done for way longer than usual.  We only stopped as I had another activity which started in 15 minutes.  As it turned out that was cancelled.
So as it turned out I could have done this 2 hours ago.  Instead I did other things like had a coffee, had a think, had a read and basically did everything but post.  But it was in the back of my mind and here I am now doing it.
I tend to write on whatever grabs me at the time.  What has grabbed me this morning was something I read which said something like, “if you are to be (something) do not stoop to be a king.”
I thought that was really well put. The whole point to me is, it is better to be doing what I feel right to be doing then to covet any other role no matter how alluring or seemingly influential it may be. If it is not for me then I would not be the help I could be, and I would keep someone from the role whose role it is.  Every role matters.  Some may be more visible and seemingly desirable but no matter what my role is in an organization – it matters.
A business needs, accountants, salespeople, admin people, and others.  Some roles are very public facing, but, take away a hidden role and the whole organization grinds to a halt.  Sometimes the effect is immediate and at other times it comes to light. 
But if one necessary element is missing, the whole is incomplete.  My role matters in achieving a desirable outcome.  Other roles matter too and not all are for me.

There is a section of the James Clear email that got my attention as it is something I have experienced and seen.
"The only way to develop true confidence is to earn it.  The confidence that you can bounce back from failure is earned by working through previous failures.  The confidence that you can deliver the speech is earned by the previous speeches you have given.  The confidence that you can perform on game day is earned by the previous performances in practice.
In the beginning, you need enough courage to practice even though it may not go very well. And over time, as your skills improve, courage transforms into confidence. Courage first, confidence later."
I really like the line “courage first, confidence later.”
I remember watching someone cut hair who was not a hairdresser.  Many of us were sitting talking while that person performed a task that needed doing.  It went wrong on that occasion in that the electric clippers jammed.  The person cutting the hair did not know and though they just needed to push harder.  The one having their hair cut said later, “at least the doctor had the decency to knock me out first.”  We laugh every time we think of that episode.
But from the start I admired that person.  At least they had the courage to give it a go.  Many of us were prepared to be spectators.  The thing about spectating is it is perfectly safe to be an “expert.”  It is only by getting out and doing something that skill is gained.  Sometimes things do not go according to plan.  To me that is where courage and practice come together.  Mostly further practice brings skill.  This person has cut hair since and gets better and better.
I find that often the most difficult people are the one who has been doing something for a long time.  When someone new does the job, it is not as good.  Unfortunately it can even be to the point of dismissing the novice.  The thing I find hard to understand in that scenario, is that the experienced person forgets they were a novice once.  Only through courage and practice is ability gained.
I am not saying to give a go to someone forever.  It is often obvious when someone is unsuited to a task.  Something else may be better.  I find I can work with someone teachable with courage and willing to give it a go. 
To me it is a matter of finding the right fit.  Courage can be the hall mark of a mega star in the making.