Why You Should Re-Invent the Wheel (And Why I Do It)

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” It’s used to discourage people from wasting time solving a problem that has already been solved. But what if reinventing the wheel isn’t a waste of time? What if it’s actually one of the most valuable exercises you can undertake?

I reinvent the wheel, and here’s why: it helps me understand how things work.

Reverse Engineering as a Learning Tool

Reinventing the wheel isn’t about arrogance or inefficiency—it’s about reverse engineering. When I come across a system, tool, or concept that I don’t fully understand, I don’t just accept it as a black box. Instead, I break it down, study it, and sometimes even rebuild it from scratch.

This hands-on approach does three things:

1. Deepens Understanding – When you build something yourself, you’re forced to think through every decision. You see the intricacies that might be hidden behind a polished interface or API.
2. Identifies Limitations – Off-the-shelf solutions are great, but they aren’t always optimal. By recreating them, you start to see their flaws and where improvements can be made.
3. Enhances Problem-Solving Skills – Reinventing the wheel forces you to think critically and creatively, making you a better problem solver in the long run.

Reinventing the Wheel Leads to Innovation

Every great innovation starts with someone questioning the status quo. If everyone always relied on existing solutions, we’d never get better wheels—just the same old ones.

Consider these examples:

• Google reinvented search engines when they realized existing ones weren’t ranking pages effectively.
• Tesla reinvented the car by rethinking everything from the drivetrain to software integration.
• Apple reinvented the smartphone by focusing on user experience and a seamless ecosystem.

These companies didn’t just settle for what already existed. They broke things down, rebuilt them, and made them better.

When Should You Reinvent the Wheel?

While it’s not always practical to build everything from scratch, here are some situations where it makes sense:

• When you don’t fully understand something – If you’re struggling to grasp how a system works, try rebuilding a simpler version of it.
• When existing solutions don’t meet your needs – Sometimes, the available options don’t fit your specific use case. Building your own can be more efficient in the long run.
• When you want to innovate – If you want to push the boundaries in your field, start by deconstructing and reimagining what already exists.

Final Thoughts

Reinventing the wheel isn’t about being redundant—it’s about learning, improving, and innovating. The next time someone tells you not to reinvent the wheel, ask yourself: Do I really understand how this works? Could it be better? If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to start building.

I reinvent the wheel because it makes me a better thinker, problem solver, and innovator. And if you want to truly understand and push the boundaries of your field, you should too.