Imagine that every time you faced a daunting task, you could immediately hit on a way to make it easy and inviting to get started. I bet you can—if you make a "Maybe" list. The problem you have is a blob of overload and uncertainty in your mind. You know too much...
The Value of Knowing Definitions
When I was a graduate student studying Objectivism, my professor, Harry Binswanger, required that I memorize all of the definitions that are mentioned in Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand. One or more of them appeared on every exam. Thanks to this assignment, I...
Yes, It’s the Electronic Age, But Don’t Forget Paper-Age Lessons
Here's some old-fashioned advice that may be just what you need to get out of a present-day thinking block: Spread out your notes all over your desk. That's right, your desk, not your computer screen. Yes, programs exist to move around words in many wonderful easy...
Breaking Through Self-Limiting Beliefs
Breaking Through Self-Limiting Beliefs Many of you have tried the "Judge Your Neighbor" technique for analyzing anger and defensiveness. I adapted this technique from Byron Katie, who has excellent questions for challenging premises and finding flawed reasoning. Just...
The Benefits of Frequent Finishing Points
I'd like to share an invaluable technique that improves both your productivity and your motivation: Deliberately plan to reach a finishing point in your work every half hour. A finishing point is different from a stopping point. For example, if you're juggling, and...
Three Observations About Accepting Facts
Realists point out that if you want to live in the world that exists, you need to accept facts. Idealists point out that you can change the world that exists — if you take the appropriate action. These two perspectives needn’t conflict.
Finding a Topic for Concentration Exercises
Finding a Topic for Concentration Exercises For the exercises and tactics in the Thinking Lab Library section "General-Purpose Question-Asking", you need topics to think about. The purpose of this exercise is to generate some interesting possibilities. We will use a...
Tactic: Planned Evolution
Tactic: Planned Evolution "Planned Evolution" Tactic Overview What: "Planned Evolution" is an organic planning process. The essence is that you aim at a scaled-down first-generation outcome, which can then be added to and/or improved to create the desired outcome. The...
Using Analogies for Creative Problem Solving
When you are stuck on a problem and need some new ideas, you can get creative ideas by making analogies to some other field. An analogy is an abstract parallel between two quite different things. For example, you might analogize driving to project management. In both...
Three Ways to Prepare for a Constructive Conversation
If you've been following my work, you know that I'm interested in making conversations on controversial topics more constructive and less contentious. I think I'm making progress, but, yesterday I had a contentious conversation with someone who I am in basic agreement...