Anyways, I picked up the book, "Why didn't I think of that" by Charles McCoy in a bookstore at the airport in Maui. I wish I could say, I couldn't put it down, however, this book encourages you to put it down and think.

To summarize, this books exposes all various kinds of way of thinking including - perceptively, delibrately, inaginatively, systematically, intuitively, anticipatively etc. In addition, it confirms my own position that thinking is a delibrate process, a skill that one can get better at.

 

Below are some key take aways for this book for me, I know it may look/feel like one of those self improvement books, but really, this book is more like a textbook, if you really follow through on the exercises.

 

 

 

THINK PERCEPTIVELY

Obtain a clear view of reality (see the world the way it is not the way you want it to be)

Double check perceptions (and assumptions)

Concentrate on crucial facts

Ask penetrating questions (precision questioning)

Study both the forest and the trees (top down and bottoms up thinking)

Lead with your mind, follow with your heart (passion)

 

THINK DELIBERATELY

Deliberate (consciously think)

Accept responsibility for yout thinking and its result

Understand before judging

Focus on diagnosing before attempting the cure (avoid analysis paralysis)

 

CONTROL THE QUALITY OF YOUR THINKING

Is it clear?

Is it accurate?

Is it comprehensive?

Does it make sense? (common sense)

Is it intellectually honest?

 

THINK SYSTEMATICALLY

Start with what you know is true (explicit state assumptions)

Connect it up

Weigh pros and cons (prudential algebra)

Consider the odds

Pursue the critical path

 

USE YOUR IMAGINATION

Exercise a vivid imagination

Imagine courageously

Imagine your way through adversity, frustration and failure

Think beyond the bound of conventional wisdom

Imagine the very best solutions

 

LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE

Let intuition do what reason alone cannot

Learn the "feel" of real intuition

Trust your intuition

Beware of false intuition

 

THINK EMPHATHETICALLY

Consider what others think and feel

Discover what motivates others to think,feel and act as they do

Learn how others view and interprete your words and actions

 

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

Think the unthinkable

Expect the unexpected

Consider the significance and the likelihood of consequences

Invite and value blistering criticism (from people who really know how to criticize)

 

 

There are few words I have seen abused in my business career like the word "Strategy". Poeple often use words that they dont have a full grasp of the meaning off, hence they tend to use those words out of context  \ˈkän-ˌtekst\.