There's one thing that's fundamental to invention and innovation.
No...it's not coffee.
It's First Principles Thinking.
If you master this form of thinking, the possibilities for creative potential (and the upward mobility of your success) are unmatched:
No...it's not coffee.
It's First Principles Thinking.
If you master this form of thinking, the possibilities for creative potential (and the upward mobility of your success) are unmatched:
Think of first principles as individual LEGO pieces.
While they come in different shapes and colors, two things are true:
1. They can’t be reduced further.
2. They can be combined in new and exciting ways to create something unique.
Perhaps an example will illuminate.
While they come in different shapes and colors, two things are true:
1. They can’t be reduced further.
2. They can be combined in new and exciting ways to create something unique.
Perhaps an example will illuminate.
Pretend we’re trying to build a house.
You show up to work one day and someone shows you something that sort of resembles a house that needs fixing.
You move a few LEGO blocks around and get a working solution, but the solution is a tiny bit better than what you started with.
You show up to work one day and someone shows you something that sort of resembles a house that needs fixing.
You move a few LEGO blocks around and get a working solution, but the solution is a tiny bit better than what you started with.
Approaching the same situation by thinking in first principles allows you to take the LEGO structure apart, inventory the pieces, and see how they could combine to create something new and better.
Here, you create something significantly better than the original.
Here, you create something significantly better than the original.
In a nutshell that’s first principles thinking.
You break things down into the core parts and reassemble them in a more effective way.
You break things down into the core parts and reassemble them in a more effective way.
Here are three lessons First Principles Thinking can teach you:
Lesson One:
Beware of what you inherit. When someone presents something to you, the tendency is to make it slightly better than before rather than to ensure it's the best solution in the first place.
Don't do that.
Beware of what you inherit. When someone presents something to you, the tendency is to make it slightly better than before rather than to ensure it's the best solution in the first place.
Don't do that.
When it comes to decision making, this means never letting anyone else define the problem for you.
When it comes to the workplace, this means not accepting the analogies and existing solutions.
When it comes to the workplace, this means not accepting the analogies and existing solutions.
Lesson Two:
The best way to break out of a rut is to go backwards not forward.
Break things down into the parts to see what you’re dealing with.
It’s harder, sure, but you’ll be surprised by what’s suddenly possible.
The best way to break out of a rut is to go backwards not forward.
Break things down into the parts to see what you’re dealing with.
It’s harder, sure, but you’ll be surprised by what’s suddenly possible.
Lesson Three:
If you’re stuck, the first question to ask is what are we 100% sure is true?
Use that answer as your new foundation for solving the problem, and get ready to dream up something new and innovative.
If you’re stuck, the first question to ask is what are we 100% sure is true?
Use that answer as your new foundation for solving the problem, and get ready to dream up something new and innovative.
With first principles thinking (and maybe some coffee, too), you'll be able to reverse-engineer complicated problems and unleash new creative possibilities.
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