Where Do Great Ideas Come From?
“Everyone has some creative ability, but most people haven’t learned to use it.” ~Alex Osborn
I’m reading through Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude this week. It’s a classic by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone. I just finished a particularly fascinating section on creative thinking. I’m curious to hear feedback on these thoughts…
Dr. Elmer Gates, in response to a Napoleon Hill question, gave these as “the sources of all ideas:
1. Knowledge stored in the subconscious mind and acquired through individual experience, observation, and education.
2. Knowledge accumulated by others through the same media, which may be communicated by telepathy.
3. The great universal storehouse of Infinite Intelligence, wherein is stored all knowledge and all facts, and which may be contacted through the subconscious section of the mind.”
Gates showed Hill the small barren room that he often spent hours in “sitting for ideas.” For whatever reason, I seem to get many of my ideas while getting ready in the morning–I haven’t found waterproof paper for the shower. Where do you get your best ideas? And what do you think of Gates’ sources of all ideas?
Tags: ideas, Napoleon Hill, success, W. Clement Stone
May 31st, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Some thinkers actually think ideas come from outside ourselves. Charles Fi;lmore said they come from the ether-zone, cosmic and we just need to be receptive and listen with our inner voice to come up with dynamic and staggering ideas. I also thing we may bring ideas from another lifetime. My Bad?
June 1st, 2010 at 8:49 pm
[...] Nathan Martin Thoughts on financial independence, personal development, and small business « Where Do Great Ideas Come From? [...]
June 4th, 2010 at 10:51 am
I don’t know much about other lifetimes, Nate. But who knows where all that inner voice goes to gather advice?!
August 18th, 2010 at 3:59 am
“Ideas are in the air”: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/12/080512fa_fact_gladwell
September 19th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Great article, Brad!