EDWARD DE BONO'S MESSAGE
29th December 1996

Could thinking be a hobby? There are those who do crossword puzzles as a sort of hobby/challenge. Playing chess is a sort of mental hobby.

Sport is a way of using co-ordination and muscle to get a sense of achievement. Would it be possible to get the same sense of achievement from thinking?

There is a divide between those whose hobby is as a spectator (watching motor racing, tennis, basketball) and those whose hobby is actually doing something (fishing, skiing, mountaineering).

I believe that creative thinking can indeed be a hobby - more so that with any other type of thinking. There can be both aspects. There is the challenge and achievement aspect when you seek to come up with a creative outcome. How do you get a sense of achievement? There are three ways of getting this sense of achievement. The first, and most important level, is that you suprise yourself and have an outcome which seems to you to have merit and to be original. Then you can have others look at your outcome and possibly comment upon it. Finally, in some cases, there may be some independent 'assessing body' with enough credibility to give you an assessment you appreciate.

So there can be the achievement type of hobby. There is also the 'spectator' type of hobby. You can see how other minds have achieved a creative output. You can marvel at creative excellence just as you might marvel at excellence in sport or the arts. You can become a connoisseur of excellence.

One of the intentions of the Edward de Bono Creative Team (TM) is to offer this opportunity of treating creative thinking as a hobby. There is the challenge and the enjoyment and the ability to exhibit your creativity. There is also the ability to view the creativity of others.

The current problem being tackled is finding fault in the traditional process of 'democracy' . This finding fault is itself a creative exercise and it will be followed later by an exercise in which creative solutions are sought for these faults. At the moment the problem is open to all until January 1st 1997. Some time in the future only suggestions coming from registered team members may be considered. At the moment, if your input is excellent you will be invited to join the team at a 50 per cent reduction in subscription. If your input is exceptional you will receive a 75 per cent reduction.

If you pay a subscription to a health club or gym then you are investing in your physical fitness. If you buy equipment for fishing or skiing you are investing in your physical enjoyment. Would it be so strange to invest in your mental fitness and enjoyment?

Edward de Bono