Observation is perception with a purpose. You can be responsive to sensations without either perceiving or observing. This is usually called thoughtlessness, wool gathering, or mind wandering. As has been well said, “Every normal creature has seen the lightning flash, but Benjamin Franklin observed it.” Extend your eyes and your ears into unfamiliar matters and consider continually how some idea gleaned from one of these fields can be put to use by you in your own project. Listening, too, which is much more than keeping your mouth shut, should be cultivated observantly with a view to accuracy and precision.

Observation depends on 2 things: first, trained senses, and second, organized information on the subject of the observation. There is some question whether a keen judge of human nature with indifferent senses can judge a person better than a keen-sensed person who has indifferent knowledge of human nature. The only lesson to take from this debate is to realized that the ideal is to combine keen senses with expansive knowledge of a subject. With limited sense training you’d lack accurate material to combine with your past experience. With limited knowledge you might be so engulfed in details of observation that you couldn’t stand back and view the situation as a whole and give the detail meaning.

Many of the traits we discuss herein, if cultivated, have values beyond helping you to get ideas. Observation is surely one of these. It is to your interest in every way to cultivate your power of observation. The sense of observation may be defined as attention applied not only to your usual occupation but also to every circumstance of life. Far too common is it for us to go on living, year after year, without learning anything from what happens all around us. It is wise, when you look at a thing, to see it. Train yourself to observe not only accurately but quickly. This is at the foundation of making contrasts, similarities, additions, eliminations and proceeding with all the processes involved in the search for ideas.

Observation is necessary to anyone who wishes to progress at all in the field of ideas. It forms the basis of success in art, literature, science, business, government, personal relations and any endeavor. An artist is able to put life into their work because they have observed the subject they wish to represent on the canvas. Playwrights or novelists succeed according to the accuracy of their psychological observations. Knowledge of the human heart requires a sum of experience which can only be gained through extensive observation. The business person must be a keen observer to evaluate the people with whom they deal the goods or services with which they are involved. First hand knowledge based on personal observation makes for confidence, originality, leadership, memory, imagination, purpose, achievement. The basis of all detective work is keen observation and accurate interpretation. Will anyone say a good detective is not an idea producer? Observation and accurate interpretation are the basis of all hidden opportunities.