For breakthrough creativity- it is best to reason from “first principle”

In an interview with Elon Musk (founder of PayPal and Tesla Motors) done by Kevin Rose there is a great nugget of wisdom about genuine creativity and entrepreneurship. Musk observes that most people reason from “analogy” (this is in some way analogous to that).  This means that most innovation is just next step iteration and not break-through development. By starting with something that “is” one assumes a whole range of assumptions and limitations that almost always go unexamined.  By its very nature reasoning by “analogy” limits our range of solution space.

Musk suggests that it is much better to reason from “first principle” to achieve genuine breakthroughs.  Musk’s Physics background shows very clearly here.  When examining any issue or problem one needs to step back and start from the most basic/fundamental truths we know about the way things work. This drives the examination of all assumptions and looks for solutions that align with these fundamental truths. Look for solutions not tied to an existing solution but start from the most basic principles we know to be true.

He uses the issue of battery packs for electric vehicles as an example. Since battery packs have always been expensive to make; most thought about how to improve them has started from the unexamined assumption that they will always be essentially like that (reason by analogy).  Alternatively, starting from “first principle” one asks what are the basis properties of the battery materials?  What might make them more effective? How can we procure these elements in a less costly way? What basic truths about the manufacture of these packs could reduce manufacturing costs? What other elements could be used? Questions like these, not tied to assumptions about something that already exists, is fertile ground for breakthrough development.

Another “sell-out” in the “pool of despair”

Another “sell-out” in the “pool of despair”

We are all familiar with the move from a stance of non-accountability (victim thinking) to the plane of Practicing Perfection (“Proactive Accountability).  Believing one is a victim strips a person of their own personal power to change. “I’m a victim so somebody else ought to fix things for me,” the path to continued despair.  The mantra of “Proactive Accountability” is what more can I do to rise above my circumstances and achieve the results I desire.

Recently I’ve noticed another mode of thinking that is just as dangerous as believing one is a “victim.”  It is entitlement thinking. Believing one is “entitled” to something is another cognitive defect that keeps people in the “pool of despair.”  Reflect on it for just a minute, if a person believes they are entitled to some perceived benefit, they expect something else or somebody else to deliver the entitlement to them.  They wait (often passively) and expect the “goodies” to be delivered.  It is similar to the victim stance in that a person gives up their own person power to make life better.  If Proactive Accountability moves us out of the victim stance perhaps we need a “Proactive Opportunity” to fix entitlement thinking.  The mantra of Proactive Opportunity might be what more can I do to rise above my circumstances and make the most of the opportunities I have.

Pay particular attention to the language used about either victim thinking or entitlement thinking.  If the language expressed is essentially “I am a victim or “I am entitled” a person has fallen into these cognitive defects. It has become part of their identity so they feel they cannot change it and the give up their personal power to change it.  Note that some people can be victimized without coming to believe they are victims just as some people may be entitled to some benefit without coming to believe they are entitled.

The #1 Killer of Meetings (And What You Can Do About It)

The #1 Killer of Meetings (And What You Can Do About It)

Important meetings need planning but not planning that kills the interactivity, energy and creativity.  Peter Bregman's article is full of good guidance. Warning though; his style of meeting requires much "on the fly" work from the facilitator.

Happiness Sundae

Good new for introverts: You can lead a very happy life without being wildly expressive. Quietly happy is just fine.

Talent- Building your own is the best (maybe the only workable) strategy

Two separate reports this week make we wonder why more organizations aren’t putting quantum effort into employee and leadership development. It’s a survival strategy.

The CEO of Manpower was on television reporting that even in the present high unemployment environment most businesses are having a hard time finding the talent they need. Seems they just can’t find the ready-made candidates needed for open positions.   Perfect job candidates are exceedingly scarce. Then I received a report from Birkman/Stanton Chase called “Preparing for the Coming Talent Storm.” The report highlights the looming talent shortage; a huge issue related to retaining talented employees, 75% of companies admit having a huge talent gap, not to mention the retirement of Baby Boomers.

Ok, let’s see, you can’t hire enough great talent, you’re having trouble retaining great talent, the Boomers will retire very soon; it’s time to start building what you’ve got.   

Knowledge Worker -- The right skills keep you from being replaced

Reduce your vulnerability to being replaced by technology or off-shoring

Many so called “knowledge workers” believe they are relatively safe in their present roles because they do very skilled work. If you are doing work that is relatively routine, or can be fully analyzed and put into a software program; you may be at risk. Notice how much knowledge work is now being outsourced to lower wage countries (computer programming, engineering, accounting, etc.). Notice how many services formerly rendered by lawyers or accountants are now available online at modest prices. 

We are moving into an era when it isn’t good enough any longer to just do high level knowledge work. In the past people built great careers and got ahead through using their cognitive, analytic, and logic driven skills. These skills, associated with the left brain hemisphere, remain important but are no longer enough. As we move from the “Information Age” into a “Conceptual Age” skills and abilities associated with the right brain hemisphere are in demand. Daniel Pink in his book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future points clearly to this emerging reality. This isn’t really new.  The research related to “Emotional Intelligence” (EQ) has been pointing to this fact for 15 years. Intellectual Intelligence (IQ) gets one into the game. EQ and other right brained skills keep you there and help you advance.

What can you do if you are someone who has a well-developed left brain hemisphere but an under exercised right hemisphere?  It isn’t gloom and doom -- just begin to stretch and cultivate the right hemisphere.

·         Chances are your career development plan is out of balance toward the left brain

o   Add actions that focus on creativity, design, empathy, intuition

·          Take a story telling class - Learn to craft and tell stories

o   Left brain argues logically - right brain creates stories that engage and motivate

o   Read a short story each week and learn from it

·         Develop a mentoring relationship with someone you know who is highly creative

o   It can be mutually beneficial, creative types often need help stretching their left brain

·         Do a Google search on “emotional intelligence exercises” and be amazed

o   Don’t read the books - do the suggested exercises

·         Engage a coach for yourself (but not someone with a big left brain)

·         If you don’t need these suggestions, please forward them to someone who can

o   You may be one of those right-brainers who can help others