Look to the Extremes

If you want to generate new ideas and perspectives, it helps to think outside the box. 

Waaay outside the box.

We each come with our own assumptions, fears and preferences.  This influences what we see as good vs. bad, what's reasonable vs. excessive, what's risky vs. a smart opportunity.

Even with a lot of awareness and practice, it's hard to shake the filters we've worn for a long time.  It may take outlandish perspectives to adjust our habitual thinking even a little bit.

One thing that can help is to try on the perspectives of people at the extremes.  Who do you consider crazy? Look to the people of the past and present who have taken some of the traits you want to have and went too far.  The more controversial, the better. Consider people like Mark Cuban, Rihanna, Caitlin Clark, Hillary Clinton, Steve Jobs, Kobe Bryant.   The point is not to be like them, it's to imagine what the world looks like from their eyes.

• What do they see, that I don't?
• What would I have to believe in order for their decisions to seem wise?  
• What are they willing to face, that I causes me to pull back?

Thinking is free. Thought experiments have no repercussions. Test things out. Consider “what would so-and-so say about this?”. Go wild in your mind to go wise in real life.