Where are you thinking from?
Our daughter, who is three years and something, recently learned the expression “I can’t” much to the annoyance of her mum. So if she wants something she will come to her mum and say “mummy, I can’t see it” or when she is supposed to take off her dress she will go like “mummy I can’t remove it.”
I have been reflecting on the “I can’t” mentality and realized that it is common even among people much older than my daughter. As a matter of fact I have also engaged in the “I can’t” thinking many times and to my detriment.
This is what is sometimes described as thinking inside the box. It means you accept the status quo and do not accept that there are other view points or methods different to what you know or have experienced.
A story is told of a Russian businessman who approached a Swiss banker for a loan. The Russian walked into the bank and asked for a US$ 100 loan and offered his luxury Mercedes car as collateral. Recognizing that the collateral is too good the bank manager quickly approved the loan. A year later the Russian came back, repaid the loan and the 10% interest and ask that his car be released to him. The bank manager is so puzzled but finally gets the courage to ask the businessman: “Excuse me, sir, could you tell me: did you really need that $100 so badly? In order to get the money, you left your luxury car with us for a whole year!" The Russian replied, "That's simple - just think outside the box: where else in Geneva can I find such a great parking place for just $10 a year?"
The bank manager was clearly thinking inside the box while the Russian businessman was thinking outside the box. There are many ways in which thinking inside the box can be damaging. Let me give a few examples to illustrate.
Charles H. Duell was the Director of the US Patent Office, in 1899 and this is what he said at that time, "Everything that can be invented has been invented." With the benefit of hindsight we can now clearly tell that he was in the box!
In-the-box thinkers find it difficult to recognize the quality of an idea. An idea is an idea. A solution is a solution. When you are in the box you can be quite pigheaded when it comes to valuing an idea. When you stay in the box you rarely invest time to turn a mediocre solution into a great solution.
The big one: in-the-box thinkers are skilful at killing ideas. They are masters of the creativity killer attitude such as "that'll never work" or "it's too risky." The best in-the-box thinkers are unaware that they drain the enthusiasm and passion of innovative thinkers while they kill their innovative ideas.
People who are in the box believe that every problem needs only one solution; therefore, finding more than one possible solution is a waste of time. They often say, "There is no time for creative solutions. We just need THE solution."
Have you ever stopped to consider whether the financial success model followed by many people is in or outside the box?
The model I hear frequently says: “Study hard, get good grades, get a good paying and secure job.” The reality though is that whenever you list financially successful people, you will discover that the majority took another root different from the hard study and good job prescription.
Then there is the one which says; “I will start to save and invest when my income increases.” Have you ever thought that you could actually increase your income by decreasing your expenditure? Or has it ever occurred to you that you could be able to afford an investment if you pooled your “small capital” with other people?
The one which knocked me over was when a lady told me that she would rather marry a filthy rich person and fall into instant riches rather than going through the long road of building up her own wealth. My response to her was that for all I know, filthy rich people can be very filthy.
I am determined to be a person who thinks outside the box and would encourage you to join me outside the box or stay put if you are already outside. That means embracing different attributes that include:
• Willingness to take new perspectives to day-to-day work.
• Openness to do different things and to do things differently.
• Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
• Striving to create value in new ways.
• Listening to others.
• Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas.
Out-of-the box thinking requires openness to new ways of seeing the world and a willingness to explore. Out-of-the box thinkers know that new ideas need nurturing and support. They also know that having an idea is good but acting on it is more important. Results are what count.
I have been reflecting on the “I can’t” mentality and realized that it is common even among people much older than my daughter. As a matter of fact I have also engaged in the “I can’t” thinking many times and to my detriment.
This is what is sometimes described as thinking inside the box. It means you accept the status quo and do not accept that there are other view points or methods different to what you know or have experienced.
A story is told of a Russian businessman who approached a Swiss banker for a loan. The Russian walked into the bank and asked for a US$ 100 loan and offered his luxury Mercedes car as collateral. Recognizing that the collateral is too good the bank manager quickly approved the loan. A year later the Russian came back, repaid the loan and the 10% interest and ask that his car be released to him. The bank manager is so puzzled but finally gets the courage to ask the businessman: “Excuse me, sir, could you tell me: did you really need that $100 so badly? In order to get the money, you left your luxury car with us for a whole year!" The Russian replied, "That's simple - just think outside the box: where else in Geneva can I find such a great parking place for just $10 a year?"
The bank manager was clearly thinking inside the box while the Russian businessman was thinking outside the box. There are many ways in which thinking inside the box can be damaging. Let me give a few examples to illustrate.
Charles H. Duell was the Director of the US Patent Office, in 1899 and this is what he said at that time, "Everything that can be invented has been invented." With the benefit of hindsight we can now clearly tell that he was in the box!
In-the-box thinkers find it difficult to recognize the quality of an idea. An idea is an idea. A solution is a solution. When you are in the box you can be quite pigheaded when it comes to valuing an idea. When you stay in the box you rarely invest time to turn a mediocre solution into a great solution.
The big one: in-the-box thinkers are skilful at killing ideas. They are masters of the creativity killer attitude such as "that'll never work" or "it's too risky." The best in-the-box thinkers are unaware that they drain the enthusiasm and passion of innovative thinkers while they kill their innovative ideas.
People who are in the box believe that every problem needs only one solution; therefore, finding more than one possible solution is a waste of time. They often say, "There is no time for creative solutions. We just need THE solution."
Have you ever stopped to consider whether the financial success model followed by many people is in or outside the box?
The model I hear frequently says: “Study hard, get good grades, get a good paying and secure job.” The reality though is that whenever you list financially successful people, you will discover that the majority took another root different from the hard study and good job prescription.
Then there is the one which says; “I will start to save and invest when my income increases.” Have you ever thought that you could actually increase your income by decreasing your expenditure? Or has it ever occurred to you that you could be able to afford an investment if you pooled your “small capital” with other people?
The one which knocked me over was when a lady told me that she would rather marry a filthy rich person and fall into instant riches rather than going through the long road of building up her own wealth. My response to her was that for all I know, filthy rich people can be very filthy.
I am determined to be a person who thinks outside the box and would encourage you to join me outside the box or stay put if you are already outside. That means embracing different attributes that include:
• Willingness to take new perspectives to day-to-day work.
• Openness to do different things and to do things differently.
• Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
• Striving to create value in new ways.
• Listening to others.
• Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas.
Out-of-the box thinking requires openness to new ways of seeing the world and a willingness to explore. Out-of-the box thinkers know that new ideas need nurturing and support. They also know that having an idea is good but acting on it is more important. Results are what count.
It needs to be said that thinking outside the box can be taken too far. Here in California the term is used to the point of abuse and can be used to present the illusion that the impossible or unlikely can be made reality.
ReplyDeleteThinking outside the box is a good thing, but along with it is required the good judgement to discard ideas that don't hold water.
nice advice there
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Our eduction system trained us to be in-box thinkers. It killed our creativity by repeatedly examining us on memory power. The sooner we reform and regain our creativity, the better for humanity. Thanks for this great counsel
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing idea. let all students think outside the box . they will be able to conquer their problems of unemployment.
ReplyDelete