“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” – Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein is cooler than people think.
He wasn’t the staunch, pedantic professor commonly thought of. He was a vivacious, and rather funny character.
We all know that Einstein received a few poor grades as a youngster. We’ve heard that he worked at the patent office, and that he was a prominent figurehead at CalTech, etc.
But how did Einstein innovate in such dramatic fashion, while sporting a unique personality?
Simple. Einstein loved breaking rules.
By all means, he was a nonconformist. Oftentimes people think of Einstein as calm-a settled professor who conceived groundbreaking theories. A man that uncovered scientific laws in drab fashion.
In reality, Einstein was the exact opposite. He rarely attended classes, labeling them rubbish and “too rigid”. And instead, he spent his time toiling over problems and mental exercises in his lab. It was a difficult education and Einstein suffered much for his autonomy. His violently independent nature was frowned upon by many. In one case, a professor withheld the recommendation that would have allowed him to secure a university position because of “certain atypical characteristics.”
Einstein conducted most of his work when he was completely isolated from the academic community. Unlike traditional academics, no one directed his research. At the patent office no department chair filtered out his wild ideas. There was no tenure committee to intimidate him. He didn’t attend conventions to learn what everyone else was thinking.
He was free to create mind-blowing, and oftentimes crazy, solutions.
In school, we learn to adopt stringent standards and certain ways of doing things. Once out, we continue to stubbornly follow procedure. We decide to go with the herd and not question things. We don’t question things because, “surely if it was wrong, someone would have already realized it and changed it, right?”
That’s wrong.
Still today, there are everyday objects around us that don’t make sense. Many don’t realize it because they’ve fallen into patterns of “groupthink.”
Here’s a good example of the precedent cognitive trap: the most modern, state-of-the-art train still runs on a standard gauge, or track width. The gauge became standard on American railroads because British engineers, who had used the same gauge on their railroads, built them. British railroads originally adopted the standard because the carriage trolling was available to make axles that size. All carriages used that dimension of axle to fit in the ruts of British roads. British roads started as Roman roads. Roman chariots originally made the ruts. The axles of Roman chariots were built to accommodate two roman horses. Bottom line: in today’s age, there’s no logical reason why we still use this standard.
Not many recognize these modern anomalies because we’ve accepted them. It’s been the standard so long that people don’t question it.
So what can you do to avoid cognitive traps?
1) First, clearly uncover and then define the problem. A great problem is one that’s well-defined and also expands options for creativity.
2) Second, break the pattern. Focus on the problem and then apply random elements and variables to it. While thinking of a problem, open a dictionary and start applying any word you come over to the problem. For instance, I was once faced with a problem for a new venture. I opened a dictionary and came across a whole new spectrum of possibilities for the project. I came across words like, “satellite,” “calculator” and “remote.” These words engendered a new thought stream of solutions into the problem I was faced with.
3) Third, grow the solution. Once you have an idea, it’s merely that-an idea. The cultivation process of ideas into actual solutions takes much more focus, time and thought. Once Einstein had the idea of relativity conceived, it took him years to actually create a fully-functional theory (solution). Apply wild notions to your idea. Become a devil’s advocate. Criticize, scrutinize and analyze the idea until it’s flawless.
Stop being reserved in your thinking, and unleash creativity Einstein Style.
If anyone questions you, “What do you think your doing? Who do you think you are?”
Reply with, “Einstein.”
