Discover the full collection of #ThinkfullyHabits
Oranges came about from crossing the pomelo fruit with the mandarin. The story didn't stop there. The pomelo was then re-mixed back with the orange in order to give us the grapefruit, which was determined as a distinct fruit in its own right in 1837.
Interesting outcomes come from mixes. The same is true when we mix ideas together – particularly when we work with others to do so.
Read MoreDoes making a joke feel a bit frivolous? A distraction that should be avoided? Or saved for after work? If so, it may be worth taking a quick step back to look at what the brain is doing when making a joke, and the benefits of doing so.
Read MoreWhat if we didn’t need to start from scratch when trying to solve a problem or if a partial blueprint already existed? The trick is often knowing where to look. How often do you take inspiration from nature and the natural world as a place to start?
One example (from many!) is how the porcupine quill is inspiring the design of surgical staples to help improve the healing process.
Read MoreHow often have things in your life been influenced by a chance encounter or a happy accident? Chances are there's been a few.
Happy accidents have had a huge influence on our lives. Take Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin by chance after he went on holiday in 1928 without washing away his bacteria samples and on return found bacteria fighting fungus growing in his absence.
Read MoreHistory may seem irrelevant when we face such novel times. However, what if history is more helpful in navigating the new normal than we may instantly give it credit for?
Timothy Snyder, History Professor, Yale University and Author of The Road to Unfreedom* makes a good case for stealing from the past to get ahead, on the basis that history provides a unique vantage point to see what patterns are coming together. He argues that if you can see the patterns that might be forming and understand how those patterns have played out in the past, you can intervene and start working with those patterns to shape the future.
So, what if looking behind us to the past could be more fruitful than we expect. What if we viewed history as a valid resource for helping us work out what happens next?
Read MoreStuck? Ask yourself ‘Where in the world has my challenge been faced before?’ That’s exactly what Helen Barnett Diserens, the creator of the roll-on deodorant did. Previously, deodorant was only available in a paste form and it was messy to apply. Rather than looking at close-to-home solutions within the cosmetic industry, she was instead inspired by the way that ink flowed from a ballpoint pen and she saw how the process could be applied to any liquid with similar properties.* The roll on deodorant has gone on to become one of the most popular hygiene products in history.
Read MoreYou don't have to be a novelist or poet to make effective use of analogies. An analogy is simply a comparison of two things that show their similarities and takes a familiar idea to help explain a complex or new one.
Read MoreThe moment we get to work we may be tempted to leave behind our non-work experiences. But there’s considerable value in your wider life experiences that could prove insightful when looking for a fresh response to a work challenge.
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