I recently visited the Ford and Edison Museum in sunny Florida. I purchased a very interesting book written by James Newton, a friend of five well known men. The five men were Edison, Ford, Lindberg, Firestone and a man by the name of Alexis Carrell. I won't take the time in this blog to mention anyone except Edison. We all are familiar with the many inventions that Edison created in his lifetime, and we have benefited from all of them. I want to use one point that was made concerning Edison. He took time to think!

The story was told that Edison was often seen sitting along the bank of water by his home with a fishing pole in the water. If you visited him, you would assume he was fishing, and no one would bother someone that was fishing! You must be quiet along the river bank; if you make noise, the fish won't bite. Edison didn't plan on a catch most days because he didn't even place bait on his pole. At the end of the day he accomplished his objective because all he wanted to do was sit in peaceful solitude and think! He later placed his thoughts into action.

How busy we get. A multitude of things are going on around us all the time. How and when do you take the time to think? I mean really ponder the events, values, and creations all around you? There is no time to do this in the middle of our days. Most of us don't have a river to sit by but we can still plan our personal quiet time to think. We need to plan ahead and make a schedule for our thinking time.

The major part of the United States is experiencing extreme weather conditions during the next few months. Once we manage, sometimes with great difficulties to get to our business, we become so involved in the day-to-day issues that our thinking is put on hold. I have heard many small business owners say they have trouble sleeping—they think about business all night long. This method of thinking doesn't usually get the results we need to make changes and promote more business, because when we are awake we are tired from our sleepless nights, and all we want to do is make it through the day.

Usually, as the new year begins, we take a few minutes to say something to those around us concerning those things we would like to accomplish. Many of us have mental notes of plans for the new year. Some of us have actually taken a few moments to write them down. I have several blank journals in my house. I'm using one of them as my thinking journal. Yes, you can use your computers as well, but I'm often tired of my computer and need to rest my eyes from it for awhile. I have a journal to list my ideas, and now I just need to plan the time to do my thinking.

When the weather is sunny, we can always think of something we need to do outside. When it rains or snows, we often turn on the television and want to relax. Relaxing works very well with no television and our thinking journals on our lap. The weather is our excuse not to do any outside chores. When we go home from our businesses and after the evening meal is a perfect time to plan a thinking time. We must plan ahead for this time to become a part of our routine. Otherwise another event will take over. Your date book or wherever you list your important dates needs to have the thinking time highlighted.

Great times for thinking include rainy days, snowy days, and even sunny days. It needs to be in a quiet place where you won't be disturbed with your cell phone off. If you live where it's warm outside, there are many great thinking places. I like to think of my thinking time as meditation time. All kinds of thoughts run through my mind. So I jot them down quickly. You can make detailed notes later. Don't lose any of your thoughts. Your thoughts are so important to your wellbeing and the fulfillment of your dreams. Our dreams are often the foundation of some of our best ideas. We have daydreams and night dreams that stimulate ideas. Keep them both in your journal.

If you aren't catching any new clients out of the river of water that you have been fishing in, try not using bait; sit quietly and meditate on what you need to do to reel yourself the catch of a lifetime. Go over in your mind your conversations with your clients. How you approach your sales. How you present yourself, your product, your services, and your company. Use your thinking journal to list new thoughts and ideas that will make this year the year that places your company above your competition. Next time remember that old saying, and keep your thinking cap on!