Alden B. Dow
"The spirit of any really creative idea originates in the mind of the leader. This is the ideation 'frontier' which is the fountainhead of the idea's structure and aesthetic quality. Strong leadership is essential and linked with the indispensability of imagination. The leader must see beyond today to give birth to a viable idea."

Photograph courtesy of the Alden B. Dow Archives.

"This is a graphic picture of a process of thinking about quality."

"There seems to be a logical sequence in developing an expression of quality."

"This analysis should help a person to think more constructively."

Facts and FeelingsCreativityHonesty, Humility and EnthusiasmNew ExpressionsAppreciationFiner StandardsThinking and DoingIndividualism

INDIVIDUALISM
The Way of Life Cycle starts with a person's individualism. In every way the individual is unique. When this uniqueness is combined with time and place, there can be no duplicates. Even the atom exhibits individualism . . . no two atoms are excited the same way, at the same time, in the same space. As atoms combine into higher forms, even the human being, this individualism grows. The theme of individualism is universal. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

THINKING AND DOING
The way I think is not exactly the way you think. The way I do something is not exactly the way you do it. When you put these two unique producing qualities together, the result is a one-of-a-kind effort. This effort can never be duplicated exactly by either the originator or anyone else. No two creators, try hard as they will, can create absolute identicals. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

CREATIVITY
Our unique abilities, when put together, naturally create something new . . . this is called creativity. The process of creativity involves conscious thought, subconscious feeling, plus the skill to put ideas together. Each of these activities has its own individualism. Creativity provides human expression that can aid the progress and welfare of mankind. The products of creativity help satisfy man's ever increasing needs. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

FACTS AND FEELINGS
Facts are the realities of life, feelings are the realities of the imagination. When all the facts are arranged, through feelings, into a satisfying form, the result is a composed order of expression. The results, consciously or subconsciously generated, can be subject to reason or logic. Facts are the science of the subject -- when both are utilized, the resulting expression has real value. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

HONESTY, HUMILITY, ENTHUSIASM
The expression, then, may be screened for honesty, humility and enthusiasm. Honesty is compatibility to everything known about the subject. Humility is the balanced give-and-take between people and their environment. Enthusiasm is the quality that generates excitement and the force that gets things done. If the idea meets these conditions, in the eyes of the creators, it is on its way toward establishing finer values. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

NEW EXPRESSIONS
New expressions, good or bad, are thus developed. In the opinion of the creator, the new expressions are always constructive. They have received maximum creative input of facts and feelings. They have been personally screened for basic values. The end result should be a new expression of finer quality. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

APPRECIATION
Evaluation and appreciation of these new expressions by both the individual creator and society in general discourages the destructive and encourages the constructive. The new expression must be considered beneficial by both individual creators and society before it can be properly appreciated. The ability to appreciate and evaluate the good and bad is a most constructive human attribute. Without appreciation there can be no awareness, beauty or love in this world. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

FINER STANDARDS
The end result of this Way of Life Cycle is the accomplishment of finer standards. Man's major objective in life is to progress in as many directions as possible. Progress toward higher quality in all areas is a never-ending process. The accomplishment of finer standards becomes a continuing purpose of life. Return to Way Of Life Cycle

copyright 1976 by Alden B. Dow