Some so-called “realists” condemn imagination.  They say it is apt to make men visionary and unable to recognize and meet successfully the every-day problems of life.  But the big men of finance, industry, and politics have become pre-eminent because of the fertility and productiveness of their imaginations.  What the “hard-headed” man condemns is not imagination, but inability to use it constructively.  He deprecates imagination not carried into action.  Constructive imagination, however, has always been man’s greatest aid in making progress.

[Sidenote:  Four Ways to Re-construct Ideas]

In order to develop your constructive imagination most effectively you must follow certain laws with regard to the re-adjustment of parts, qualities, or attributes of things you know.  You can re-construct an idea; (1) by merely enlarging an old mental image; or (2) by diminishing the size of the previous image; or (3) by separating a composite image into its parts; or (4) by imaging each part as a whole.

Let us illustrate how these laws of constructive imagination might be applied effectively in planning the approach to a prospective employer.

[Sidenote:  Using Constructive Imagination]

He perhaps has an idea that the possibilities of the job you want are limited.  You should plan to enlarge the picture of your possible service and to show that you could do more things than he is likely to expect of you.

So you can diminish his idea of the salary you want, by planning to show him that in proportion to the enlarged service you purpose to render, the pay you ask is not really big.

In order to make him appreciate better just what your contemplated job means, you can separate it into the different functions you will perform.  The mere fact that the job has a great many parts will be effective in impressing him with the idea that it is worth more pay.

Then you can take each part or function of your job and show it as a whole opportunity.  For instance, if you are a correspondent, you might demonstrate just how letters of different length could be spaced on the stationery to develop a uniformly artistic impression that would help to get more business by mail.

All your imaginative powers can be made to work together to accomplish the one certain result you desire.  “Constructive imagination is always characterized by a definite purpose, which never is lost sight of until the image is complete.”

[Sidenote:  Friendly Courage]

Thousands of men have failed, after getting right up to the door of opportunity, because they had to turn away in order to screw up their courage.  No one can hope to succeed if he lacks the quality of bravery necessary to gain chances.

True bravery is not cockiness or swaggering.  It is simply a kindly self-confidence that makes no impression of a threat to others, and gives no suggestion that the man who has it feels there is the slightest reason for being afraid of anybody else.