From a Great Thinker to Seven-dimensional Thinking

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Albert Einstein

On 11/12, Google honors Auguste Rodin with a Google Doodle integrating Rodin's "The Thinker" sculpture into it for his 172nd birthday.

"The Thinker" (Originally named as Poet) is a bronze sculpture marble pedestal by Auguste Rodin, whose first cast, of 1902, is now in Paris; there are some 20 other original castings, as well as various other versions, studies, and posthumous castings. It is often used to represent philosophy.

Though there’s design story behind the statue, the figure can be understood in broader, a universal terms. The Thinker is depicted as a man in sober meditation battling with a powerful internal struggle. The unique pose with hand to the chin, right elbow to the left knee, and crouching position allows the statue to survey the work with a contemplative feel.

Thinking is probably one of the most difficult things for human beings, the thinking capability may well define the difference between human and other creatures, the level of thinking may also well reflect who we are, we’ve been living in the world full of mystery, the things we know, compared to those we don’t know, maybe just a tip of iceberg, the world need more great thinkers, like Albert Einstein:

1. Out of Box Thinking

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.            Albert Einstein 

The world becomes so complex and inter-connected than ever, humans solve some imminent issues, but also creates the new layer of problems; the old thinking may turn to be the barrier to overcome such emerging challenges. Out of Box thinking is not about “nice to have”, but “must have” in understanding the thorny issues, in order to shoot the tangle to see from different angles, out of box thinking need be cultivated via circular vision and non-linear knowledge & cognizance.

2. Independent Thinking

Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.    Albert Einstein

Knowledge accumulation may add quantified & qualified ingredients into one’s thought process, however, it won’t transcend into great idea or fair judgment automatically, “think hard, think smart, think different” takes a good habit and diligent work, in order to challenge conventional thinking & ivory tower theory, it’s such an independent thinking to transform knowledge into wisdom.

3. Positive Thinking

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.   Albert Einstein 

Positive thinking can move the mountain, it’s critical trait in effective leadership and indispensable power to push the human world forward, positive thinking is like sunshine, brighten our surrounding, warm up one’s heart and mind; positive thinking means cautiously optimistic, shape the world via positive will and freedom of choices. 

4. Creative Thinking

 Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.  Albert Einstein

Simplicity is the ultimate level of sophistication. Creative thinking makes business and our world not only functioning, firm but also aesthetic and delightful; Creative thinking goes beyond product design via an architectural view, it can touch every discipline in contemporary society.  Innovation is light every business is pursuing now, creative thinking is an innate process to create a novel idea, which can be implemented and achieve its economic value via innovation management. 

5. Critical Thinking

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.   Albert Einstein 

Though modern education trains students in critical thinking, still, we need more such thinking than less, critical thinking helps business eliminate blind spots, recognize risk patterns, and avoid pitfalls, it’s the right type of thinking in enhancing governance and enforcing management discipline.

6.  Synthetic Thinking

 All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree.  Albert Einstein 

Either left-brain thinking or right-brain thinking, whole-brain thinking is superior, industry society was good at creating and managing silos in the 20th century; however, at emerging digital world, convergence is the new trend, synthetic thinking well reconnects the dots cross-discipline, cross-function, cross-culture, and cross-generation. Synthetic thinking makes business as a whole better than the sum of pieces; it also makes the human society harmonized with nature world.

7. Magic Thinking

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.  Albert Einstein

Knowledge is power, but imagination is more important than knowledge, as imagination encircles the world, Modern talent wants to beat Einstein’s intelligence, understand more about galaxy or universe, and imagination is the only path. Magic thinking can shape the vision, such “vision thing” helps one to see the future as if it were closer.

The further dimensions of divergent thinking are required as modern society is much more complex than the era when Einstein lived, besides such seven-dimensional thinking, today’s talent should also master on global thinking and collective thinking., etc, to fill the world with a flow of contemplation. It’s the confluence of thinking to solidify one’s mentality and reboot our society

The statue of "Thinker" is inspiring, and the world may not lack great thinkers, but need special eyes to identify them, empower them and transform the power of thinking into an abundance of innovation. 

Posted in: Food for Thought,Future of Leadership,Innovation,Leading by Questioning,Mindshift