I much like the word “amateur” as we might apply it to the subject of getting ideas. From the French verb, “to love,” its literal English meaning is to have such a fondness for a particular endeavor that one cultivates it eagerly without pursuing it professionally. Many notable discoveries in science have been made by amateurs. Newton’s occupation was that of a government employee. His scientific exploits were the hobbies of an “amateur”. To Einstein, mathematics was a hobby, his work being in the Swiss patent office.

To do anything with the spirit of love is to add profoundly to its potentiality for success. Everyone knows that love is magnetic. In the field of thought it attracts other thoughts that are needed, in a mysterious way. It removes much of the stress and strain of compulsion and adds the glow of happiness and inspiration.

When your dominant mental attitude is aspiring, harmonious and positive your mental powers will be directed into constructive channels. If the state of mind is discordant, apathetic, negative, then the forces will be misdirected and wasted. Attitudes of harmony and goodwill promote improved conditions of satisfaction and progress. Only trouble and discontent, confusion and discord can result from destructive attitudes. Creative skills enable us to deal ably with every problem of living. They aid us in developing our individual character to an increasingly higher creative level. Since it is creative skill which enables us to advance to economic stability and to enjoy life at the highest level, the development of creative skill is a most important practice for each of us to undertake.

Creativeness in the production of ideas when successful is far more than a financial asset, for it serves in a big way as an emotional outlet as well. Such ills as nervousness, discouragement, the inferiority sense, and general restlessness are due to the feeling that one is not contributing to life to the hilt of their capacities.

A single new idea may reshape your whole future. It is worth trying for. The results of ideas extend far beyond money. They bring one into new business and social contacts. They furnish the priceless opportunity to be of service, and thereby achieve appreciation, so yearningly desired by every human being. They justify one’s existence, for one has no right to consume all the pleasures and benefits and comforts of life without producing some in return. The idea producer also gains in the pleasures and rewards of alertness, interest in surroundings, the conquest of boredom, and the possession of a hobby with many challenging qualities. The successful idea producer also develops their own personality by adding interest, enthusiasm, purpose to their life. They increase their mental stature by becoming more observant, more analytical, and more concentrated. Most people however, do not lack the capacity to be more creative. The difficulty up to now has been that the methods of accomplishing such a purpose have nowhere been imparted to them. As a result, they view the subject with awe and mystery and ineptly allow themselves to be stumped by imaginary obstacles.

One has only to look around at the world to see in the most casual glance that there is untold opportunity for improvement and change. Granting the tremendous need for creative thinking and for new ideas, it is high time to place their production on a more systematic and reliable basis than has hertofore been done.