Rules of thumb for solving problems

Originally from a research physicist by the name of Tom Hirshfield, via Roger von Oech. Good stuff.

1. If you hit every time, the target's too near -- or too big.

2. Never learn details before deciding on a first approach.

3. Never state a problem to yourself in the same terms as it was brought to you.

4. The second assault on the same problem should come from a totally different direction.

5. If you don't understand a problem, then explain it to an audience and listen to yourself.

6. Don't mind approaches that transform one problem into another, that's a new chance.

7. If it's surprising, it's useful.

8. Studying the inverse problem always helps.

9. Spend a proportion of your time analyzing your work methods.

10. If you don't ask "Why this?" often enough, someone else will ask, "Why you?"

Comments

[Roger von Oech]

Greetings!

Thanks for stopping by the Creative Think blog, and reposting part of the Tom Hirshfield post.

I enjoyed looking around your site!

Best wishes, and I hope you come back to see what else we have to offer!

Happy whacking!

Roger von Oech