One of the scariest pathways through the grownup world of financial responsibility involves the phenomena of lateral thinking. The conscious mind flies from A to B to C to The Inevitable Conclusion.

It goes something like this:

• Gas prices are up
• That’s almost $200 extra per month on an already stuffed budget
• Perhaps I can cut somewhere else?
• The cell phone bill’s almost $150 per month… how did that happen?
• Wait a minute… how did we get a $3000 balance on Mastercard?
• The company’s threatening layoffs so no raise this year.
• If we eat beans and rice every day and fast on Sundays we’ll save $75 on groceries.
• We haven’t put a penny in the kids college fund for over a year.
• Etc.

Lateral thinking is frightening. It choo-choos head-long down the track of logic and crashes into the brick wall of blind panic. The inevitable conclusion of lateral thinking is this:

There is only one solution to your problem.

And Now for Something Completely Different

Divergent thinking operates on a multi-dimensional plane. It goes from point A, careens into point B and flies off into space like a Chinese Firecracker, lighting up the sky on New Year’s Eve.

Divergent thinking goes something like this:

• Gas prices are up…
• That’s almost $200 extra per month…
• Perhaps this is an opportunity… a kick in the pants to get moving…
• I can start a business. Everyone loved that Mustang grape jelly we made last year…
• What about selling online?..
• Or rent houses… so many foreclosures… where’s my financial calculator? Maybe we can increase our monthly income thataway…
• I could check into substitute teaching. I *do* look good in khakis…
• Freelance writing! Mom says I’m funny. Dave Berry should watch his backside, I’m just saying…
• Etc.

And once you’re a bit further along the path to financial freedom:

• Gas prices are up…
• That’s almost $200 extra per month…
• That means someone, somewhere’s making a huge profit…
• I wonder if there’s an upside? Maybe I should check into buying those oil-stock thingies…
• Wonder how you buy those? Maybe I need to learn about that…
• Or we could raise the rent a few dollars a month to cover the added expenses… that’s what big-shot business people do…
• Wonder what else might be going up soon? Gold? Silver? Maybe its time to sell those coins we found in the sock drawer… how much would that bring in? Enough to start an online business? Or a down payment on something?..
• Company’s threatening layoffs… maybe its time to expand the rental business…
• Etc.

The Sweet Smell of Freedom…

Divergent thinking is liberating. It flies through space and time and soars into unknown and exciting territory. Divergent thinking is boundless. Anything is possible. Circumstances may later alter its trajectory, but upon lift-off , divergent thinking frees the mind, opens doors of opportunity and understands the truth:

There are multiple solutions to your problem.

Divergent thinking is a skill that requires practice. It must be fed through education, knowledge and the company of other divergent thinkers. It grows, expands, flexes, leaps. Sometimes it touches down lightly, realizing the idea probably isn’t worth the effort, only to lift off again into another sky-high chrysanthemum outburst of boundless possibility.

It Is Time

• A. To learn: Start by reading “The Richest Man in Babylon” (see JoJo Recommends)
• B. To feed: Find other divergent thinkers and enjoy their company. Divergent thinkers can be found in books, blogs, and forums if none prance about your neighborhood
• C. To grow: Practice, practice, practice. When you find yourself drowning, let your mind take a leap. Stop self-editing. Anything’s possible, no matter how silly. You can always regroup later.
• D. To remember: Start a journal. Write everything down. You’ll want to see the progress you’ve made on days when lateral thinking tries for a hostile takeover.

Popularity: 15% [?]