When was the last time you allowed yourself a flight of fancy?

Not a strategic planning session. Not a carefully measured brainstorming exercise with deadlines, budgets and action items attached. I mean a real moment of imagination. A moment where you let your mind wander, explore possibilities and ask, “What if?”

As business owners and leaders, we spend so much of our time grounded. We solve problems, manage people, balance finances, serve clients and make decisions. These are the essential skills that keep our businesses moving forward.

But sometimes, the ideas that transform our businesses come when we give ourselves permission to take flight.

Creativity is often mistaken for something reserved for artists, writers or designers. The truth is, creativity is one of the most valuable skills we bring to business. It helps us see new opportunities, find different solutions and imagine a future that doesn’t exist yet.

Some of the world’s greatest innovations started as a flight of fancy. Someone imagined a different way to communicate, travel, shop, learn or connect, and then had the courage to turn that idea into reality.

Yet creativity needs space. It needs curiosity. It needs us to step away from the constant noise of our busy lives and allow our imagination to do its job.

That might mean taking a walk without a podcast playing in your ears. Visiting somewhere new. Having a conversation with someone outside your usual circle. Reading a book completely unrelated to your industry. Trying something simply because it brings you joy.

Because those little moments of curiosity are often where our biggest ideas begin.

“Flight of Fancy” is also the theme of our next WNA Magazine and I cannot wait to see where this idea takes our incredible members. We’ll be exploring the creative spirit in all its forms, across business, travel, lifestyle, wellbeing and beyond.

Most importantly, we’ll be celebrating the imagination, ideas and stories of the women in our network.

So here’s my challenge to you this week. Give yourself permission to dream a little bigger. Follow your curiosity. Let your thoughts wander somewhere unexpected.

Your next great business idea might already have wings. You just need to give it room to fly.