The random question caught me by surprise. As I prepared for the meeting, I had analyzed the potential questions and lines of discussion. The initial start followed an anticipated path. As the discussion began to turn into a dialogue, I realized I was having a lot of fun.
“How do I learn to think like this?”
It was a fascinating question. While I had a gut level reaction, my thought at the time was that there was so much about his story that I needed to know if order to have an opinion. Even if I had an opinion, I am not sure I wanted to share it. A combination of trust and understanding always plays a crucial role in helping someone, especially when it relates to the way they see and think.
My first reaction was “why”. “Why do you want to think or do things differently?”
His answer convinced me that he was genuinely wanted to embrace more, not less. He was looking to do things differently, if only to take a fresh start at creating something useful for his target audience.
There is nothing magical the conversation that followed. Writers and guides across time have shared these words. As I reflect on them, I realized that they were as much for me as they were for him.
Look for more. Read, listen, and seek to understand the stories of others. There are alternatives that could be adapted. There are different ways of seeing a problem and a solution that open up hidden windows and doors.
Deconstruct with a goal of understanding the foundations and the ways people see and use the pieces. It starts with discovery. It expands when you begin to see different combinations. Sometimes, going through a difficult and challenging experience leads to something great. There are endless variations of the old story where “he [God] sent a man on ahead: Joseph, sold as a slave,” (Psalm 105.17) as a way of ultimately saving a group of people.
Most importantly, do something with what you have. Live, experiment, and collaborate.
