Do You Have "Radar O'Reilly" Imagination?

More: Imagination

Radar O'Reilly was an enterprising clerk in the TV series, M*A*S*H. Though his Army hospital platoon was situated near battle sites, Radar magically helped make theatrical productions appear from a hat in close-by tents. Though he lagged behind initially, Wikipedia describes his "near-magical abilities to get whatever the unit needed, to anticipate the demands and even the words of his bosses, and to hear incoming helicopters before anyone else. These latter two earned him the nickname, "Radar."

I wondered what generates a Radar mindset since today's businesses need imaginative strategies to move forward in fiscally tight times. Some colleagues referred to me as "Radar" in past work positions. So, in considering how that mindset developed, here's my two bit story.

When Dad returned from active Army duty, he worked for minimum wages at a local knitting mill, while Mom stayed home. With very little money, mother helped us celebrate amazing Christmases year after year, with just the right gifts, big family dinners and all the trimmings. My sense is that Mom must have licked a billion green stamps, pasted them in little booklets and redeemed them for the perfect gifts.

Interestingly, Radar imagination also germinated in neighborhood play. Lacking TV, friends and I invented our own games. We built "NASCAR" soap box racers from wood scraps and old wagon wheels. And, we competed in major competitive derbies as we catapulted down the town hill to win an elusive trophy. And, of course, some prizes were awarded to the most original creation.

Early in our marriage, my husband, had acute auction fever. Once, Carl raised his hand just in time to bid and purchase a State Park vehicle [120,000+ miles] for $100.00. Though it didn't surprise me, he never stopped talking about the great deal and his hundred dollar wonder. Our daughter, scrunched down in her seat when we drove anywhere so no one would recognize her. She called this black station wagon a Black Beauty. Trouble was, Black Beauty balked about starting. We lived in the country -- miles away from the civilization our kids craved... and when they needed to go anywhere, the Beauty proved not only stubborn, but antagonistic. One day, after getting advice from a neighbor, I impatiently unscrewed the top from the air filter and doused the chamber with ether aeorsol spray. The car not only started but backfired! :-) And, we rolled like Radar! In those days we were glad to have a car and not be stuck.

Looking back, when I observed Mom make much from little, when I joined neighborhood kids for creative play, and when I listened to expert advice on how to start a resistant car, I cultivated a Radar mindset. These events rewired my brain as Ellen Weber would say. I grew new strengths, which Dr. Howard Gardner describes as multiple intelligences... How about you?

Do you see Radars at your workplace? Want to share a story?

Stay tuned for Radar imagination at work...