What Can We Learn From Think?
THINK. ?
?Believe it or not, IBM "owned " the word THINK for many years. It became synonymous with their business. It's kind of like Kleenex…but more intellectual, right? (Btw, did you know that Kleenex was originally marketed as a cold cream remover?)?
Amazing that a company like IBM (or any company, in fact)...had or has the power of product/service to be able to preempt a word for its own use....BTW, THINK is still being used and still synonymous with their business despite how much it's changed.?
"The 'THINK' slogan was first used by Thomas J. Watson in December 1911, while managing the sales and advertising departments at the National Cash Register Company . At an uninspiring sales meeting, Watson interrupted, saying, 'The trouble with every one of us is that we don't think enough. We don't get paid for working with our feet — we get paid for working with our heads.' Watson then wrote THINK on the easel.[2]
Asked later what he meant by the slogan, Watson replied, 'By THINK I mean take everything into consideration. I refuse to make the sign more specific. If a man just sees THINK, he'll find out what I mean. We're not interested in a logic course'"(WIKIPEDIA ).
Needless to say, I jumped down the THINK rabbit hole. No surprise to my loyal readers….Sure enough, as I started to look through the sources on thinking, I found a lament to how poorly we seem to exercise the right, or talent, or "muscle" that distinguishes our human existence.?
We sometimes confuse personal opinion with thinking. How often have you been in a meeting where a spirited debate is brought crashing to a halt by the following: "It is my considered opinion that…," or "I am of the opinion that...." What happens is that the opinion is not related to the discussion and has no basis for the thought process at hand; rather, the opinion is an agenda that is introduced regardless of what is actually being discussed.?
We also can confuse freedom of expression with thinking….a lament of many today. You've heard this as well…. "I have a right to say my piece," or "I can say whatever I want." Again, in my experience, expressions like these are often signs of an agenda-based ego…as opposed to well-thought-out statements, questions, or comments that can be built on.?
The operative thought in thinking (no pun) is building. If I can build on what you say, and you can build on what I say, we are thinking. If we can build on each other, then we have transcended "agenda" and have really begun to think.?
So how is that for a thesis? The ability to build is thinking...anything less, and you are caught in the quicksand of agenda, prejudice, or (possibly just) intellectual laziness.
?Building is active. It requires energy. It overcomes the inertia of the status quo.
And, of course, this has been best stated by one of the great philosophers of the past century:
“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”
—Winnie the Pooh
There you have it…THINK.
What’s your view??
Owner and Creative Partner at VirtuAD Limited
4 小时前Mr Watson was not known for his sense of humour. In the IBM corridors were many THINK posters, just the one word writ large. One day a wag added the line, ....OR THWIM under a few of them. Mr Watson was not amused and tension mounted for a while. I'd add that thinking is like writing, we all consider than we can do it, but there's a vast difference between your writing and Philip Roth's, or Murakami's or Shakespeare. The same applies to thinking, as those who've done any philosophy will appreciate. It's hard work.
I like the idea of building in each others ideas rather than trying to convince or argue.
Project Director (MBA)
11 小时前1. Self-Reflection: Thinking helps us analyze our past actions, decisions, and experiences. It allows us to reflect, learn from mistakes, and identify what worked well. This reflection can guide future actions and help us improve over time. 2. Problem Solving: By thinking through challenges, we can evaluate different solutions, anticipate possible outcomes, and make informed decisions. Strategic thinking especially allows us to tackle complex situations, breaking them down into manageable parts. 3. Creativity and Innovation: When we think, especially if we think without limits, we come up with new ideas, concepts, and solutions that could lead to innovation. Creative thinking helps us find unique ways to solve problems or create something entirely new. 4. Critical Analysis: Thinking critically enables us to assess information objectively, question assumptions, and consider multiple viewpoints. It’s especially useful in business, investment, and technology management, as it helps us make informed decisions based on evidence rather than impulse. 5. Emotional Intelligence: Thoughtful introspection helps us understand our emotions and reactions. 6. Mindfulness and Clarity: 7. Continuous Learning:
I turn big ships in small spaces toward a digital future.
12 小时前Thinking is the time to reach clarity. Too much emphasis is being placed on making things simple. The world is not simple. Indeed, it is in the words of Edgar Morin, "radically complex". Simple is what you can do, not necessarily what needs to be done. Pascal's time to write a shorter letter is spent writing more clearly, not writing more simply. For clarity's sake, think.
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at Compass
12 小时前I THINK, so therefore I am.