This is the first of a two-part excerpt from The Visionary Leader: How to Inspire Success From The Top Down, by Susan Bagyura.

I'm sure you've been in countless brainstorming sessions throughout your career. Think about what happens in your company. If you have a research and development department, is that the only area that still shares new ideas? Are new ideas discouraged in other areas because "We don't do things that way around here," or "That's a good idea, but it won't work," or the stock comment, "We always do it this way"? These comments and beliefs can be deadly. If you don't continue to meet the needs of the market you serve, you won't be in business for long.

Tap into your creativity and that of those around you again. It was there when you first dreamed of being where you are today. We live in an abundant world, surrounded by opportunities that we can choose to take advantage of or not. Some of you may think that depends on what country you live in, but I'm here to let you in on a secret. It is a plentiful world no matter where you live.

We want to work on opening people's creativity in the workplace in a non-threatening, honest and appreciative atmosphere. Part of the process is to realize that we are here to be of service to one another. I know most people don't think about that in internal organizational departments. They tend to think of the customer as an outsider, not the person on the other end of the phone or desk. When an organization learns to operate with a focus on teamwork and service, it is a better place to work and live, as well as more successful with its customers.

Your organization can learn to use its creativity on all plains and use friendly competitiveness to develop better products and services than your competitors in the marketplace. Too many times competition is the antithesis of creativity. When people feel competitive with those around them, it probably comes from a position of limitation and a feeling of doubt or fear. They are worried that someone else will get recognition that should have come to them. Another point is that when people have low self-esteem, they try to make themselves look better than their coworkers. When we come from that place, our thoughts and personal beliefs only bring more of the same into our lives. We get exactly what we don't want.

We need to focus on excellence. I've learned that doing the best I can in all areas of my life creates the best results. Excellence is a matter of providing the best service possible. I believe this change in our outlook and behavior is the basis for creativity.

Competition thrives on the idea that there isn't enough of something, and that is a lie. We live in an abundant universe. There is plenty for everyone. People don't have to think about taking from their neighbor in order to have what they need. In my experience, by merely helping each other get what we want, we invoke the universe to bring what we need to us. Think about it. Can you imagine what a difference there would be in your business if the client's needs were the primary concern?

When you unleash creativity using the principles practiced in my professional seminars, your employees should experience an increase in enthusiasm over their part of the mission and develop a new passion for excelling within their own position, as well as helping to push your organization past obstacles that stand in your way.

I've learned that the "how" happens by precise and universal laws. There are seven universal laws that govern the way that people think and behave. When you understand these universal laws, you can apply them in your personal and professional life. When I made that transition from learning to understanding, and then applied them to myself, things began to change. It can happen for you like it did for me and others I've worked with. Your results will change with a snap of the fingers.

These aren't concepts that we are taught in schools or universities. You won't find them in most business schools or management books, but they are real and they influence the results you experience, whether you agree with them or not. It is because natural laws of the universe are so absolutely precise that we have no difficulty today in building a spaceship that we can land on the moon and can time the landing to the precision of a fraction of a second.

Next: Introducing the 7 Universal Laws

Susan Bagyura, a leadership/business coach and author of The Visionary Leader: How to Inspire Success From The Top Down, helps small businesses and entrepreneurs grow their revenues and increase their profits.