ORIGINAL THINKING: How to think like an entrepreneur!

Time. Original thinking. Real Conversations. Aesthetics.

 These are the four dimensions that I believe will matter most for mature companies and start-ups to thrive in an ever-changing and dynamic world. In my last article, I focused on the importance of TIME. Today, I want to dive into the significance of ORIGINAL THINKING. This might sound like a simple concept, but it’s much easier said than done.

 What do I mean by original thinking? Let me start with a personal example.

 Years ago, as a Doctoral Student at the University of Vienna, I studied under a professor who was notorious for his challenging exams. His tests weren’t full of complex equations, and they didn’t require rote memorisation. The difficulty was making students apply the course material in novel ways. His questions could only be answered by connecting the dots and creating new ideas and solutions, or in other words, by using original thinking.

 Developing the art of original thinking may sound simple, but first, consider three questions: have you ever gotten home and can’t remember how you got there? Do you try new workouts at the gym, or do you always re-visit your favourite treadmill? Have you ever tried writing a poem?

 I think you get the point. The human mind is skilful at taking us to the same places over and over again.

 The art of original thinking is crucial because the problems of tomorrow cannot be solved with the mindsets of yesterday. There are many examples of companies becoming obsolete because they couldn’t break out of old patterns of thinking. In the early 2000s, Blockbuster could have embraced the digital revolution, becoming an online behemoth. Instead, they sat on the side-lines while online platforms like Netflix and Hulu put them out of business.

 So, how can individuals and companies cultivate original thinking?

 I probably don’t have the perfect answer, but here are four insights I have learned by observing several great thinkers:

 1. Be Curious and mix it up

 ‘Renaissance Man’: when most people hear this phrase, they think of Leonardo da Vinci. Not only was he one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, he was also a prolific inventor, architect, and scientist. He had an unquenchable curiosity and questioned everything. His creativity gave us inventions like the helicopter and parachute, all while he was creating exquisite works of art like the Mona Lisa and Vitruvian Man.

 A mindset of curiosity is best formed by mixing two ingredients. The first is easy: like da Vinci just ask why things are the way they are, and then let your imagination flow. The second is trickier: you need to step out of your comfort zone and explore new environments. 

 How is this best done?

 In 1972, Yale psychologist Irving Janis introduced a theory that groups of people with similar traits tend to conform and make poor decisions (groupthink). However, groups of people with diverse views tend to make better decisions. I learned the importance of this concept as a 16-year-old when I moved from Austria to America on a school exchange program. As I met friends from around the world, my interests outside of my small village grew, and I began to see the world in new and exciting ways. 

 Mixing up your social and work circles with people from different backgrounds can spark your curiosity and help you see the world differently.

 2. Vuja de

 I’m going to let you in on a little secret – I don’t write my LinkedIn articles in isolation. I have a system with my assistant we call ‘ping-pong’. We bounce ideas back and forth with one rule: the next iteration has to be better than the last. Each time I get an updated version, I see the article with fresh eyes and get ideas to improve it further. This concept of encountering something you’ve seen many times – but seeing it with a new perspective – is known as vuja de (the opposite of deja vu). Vuja de can help you unlock new possibilities. 

 A good example of vuja de comes from the early days of Apple. When Steve Jobs was designing the first Mac, he didn’t like the user interface – every time he looked at it something didn't seem right. Jobs had taken a calligraphy course a decade earlier and one day realised a vital component of the user interface was missing – different fonts! Instead of just one typeface, he implemented a desktop with a range of creative typefaces which helped propel the Mac into a best-selling computer. 

 The lesson? Answers to many of your questions may already be around you – it just takes a fresh perspective to connect the dots and find the answer.

 3. Think in a higher dimension

 This advice is so simple that many people will run the risk of missing its significance. Pause and think. (Did you miss it?) Pause… And… Think… (No, really, that’s it!) Take time just to sit down, slow down, take a breath, and think. Don’t meditate, don’t let your mind wander, don’t brainstorm with others – just sit alone quietly, and think. I can promise you it will be much harder than you expect but will open your mind to new impressions and ideas. 

 Each week I carve out space for uninterrupted thinking. Some days it’s staring out a window; other days it’s taking a walk in the park; the best days are just floating in the pool. I use this time to think about my projects and consider if things are moving in the right direction. I think about the future and what is needed to make things better. I also use this time to reflect on my ‘Plan Bs’ in case things don’t go as expected. This exercise helps me think differently about the world and will frequently open new doors to old problems.

 4. Fly out of your comfort zone

 Adam Grant, an Organisational Behaviour professor at Wharton Business school, discovered an amusing insight about great thinkers. He found that Firefox and Chrome internet users often outperform Internet Explorer and Safari users. Silly, right? He found that Internet Explorer and Safari users usually accept the default option in their life. In contrast, Firefox and Chrome users tend to doubt the default and ask if there is a better way. 

Here’s a practical example.

 In the early 1990s, a young New York banker was on a fast-track in his career. Instead of continuing to climb the lucrative Wall Street ladder, he quit his job, dropped everything, and drove to Washington with just his wife and a business idea. Almost three decades later, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com, is now the world’s richest man. Jeff’s example of thinking beyond what was only in front of him and taking calculated risks is a lesson for us all.

 In closing, I invite you to pause, think, and reflect on how you’ve done with these four concepts during the past week. Could any of these practices help you? Try picking just one idea and apply it this week. I think you’ll be amazed at what happens. 

 PS: Alexander Van Der Bellen, my PhD professor that taught me the importance of original thinking, later became the leader of Austria’s Green Party and today is the President of Austria. This is not a joke.