Over the course of his career, Massaru Emoto was fascinated by the connection between water and human consciousness. Emoto encouraged over 1,900 people to project feelings – some positive, others negative – onto a number of water samples. Emoto took the samples and studied their crystal formations after the experiment. He found that the water exposed to positive sentiments – feelings of gratitude and encouragement – produced beautiful, symmetrical formations, while the water exposed to negativity – threats and insults – produced less aesthetically pleasing crystal formations.

Emoto’s findings were immediately met with scepticism. Many in the science community criticised his techniques and rejected the results. But the truth is, Emoto was less concerned with what the findings meant about the chemical structure of water, and more interested in what the study said about human nature. Emoto had set out to determine the power of positive intentions. Speaking on the findings Emoto said: “Positive thoughts can make related things beautiful and harmonized.” His conclusion was that we all, as humans, have “the power to alter our physical world with thoughts and intentions”.

While scientists were free to object to Emoto’s methods, or the way in which his technique went against the conventions of the scientific institution, few could find a flaw or a genuine objection to the principle that lay at the centre of Emoto’s theory; that positive intentions are inherently productive, while intentions that are negatively oriented are unconducive to growth and productivity.

Just as the participants did with the water in Emoto’s study, rebel entrepreneurs nourish their business with gratitude and positivity, all with the aim of creating a beautiful product or service. However, positivity must be supported by focus, tenacity and action. Then, and only then, can the cogs start churning to make the dreams of a rebel entrepreneur reality.