THE POWER OF IDEAS

Ideas, like the air we breathe, are omnipresent. And they are to the mind what light is to the eyes. Everywhere you go and every act you do provides opportunities for useful ideas. Every time you turn on the radio or TV, flip through the pages of your favorite newspaper, magazine or book, ideas are there, waiting to be picked. The moments spent waiting in the doctor or dentist's office and the time spent commuting or computing can be opportunities to garner new ideas. At the same time you're cooking dinner, you can also be cooking up fresh ideas. The point is to be aware of the ever-present opportunities.

The Founder of USA Today, Al Neuharth, said, "Never hesitate to steal a good idea." But don't steal it. Rather, embrace it. Mull it over. Pick it apart and make it your own. That's precisely what every great thinker does. No one originates ideas, but merely refines and reshapes the ideas of others. All ideas are a collaborate effort. So, they are meant to be shared. Yet, when expressing our ideas, we usually do not transfer them to others as much as awaken those already lying dormant in their minds. This is enough of an introduction to the world of ideas and their value. 

Realize that the midwives of good ideas are looking, listening, searching, questioning, and pondering. Always be on the alert for hidden treasure. Remain curious. There must be another way, a better way, or an easier way. Look for it and find it. – Chuck Gallozzi