Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISB N 1 8 7 58 57 49 4
Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g
PO B o x 3 0 0
T o o rak VIC 3 142
A U ST RA LIA
Vo i c e: +613 .950 0 .8 0 0 0
ED WA R D D E B ON O, co - f o u nde r of t he Sc ho o l of Thi nk i ng
I w o u ld exp ec t a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g member to u s e thi n k i n g in a qu i et an d
c o n fi d en t man n er. I w o u ld exp ec t that p ers o n to hav e p rid e in hi s o r her thi n k in g
s k i ll. T hi s ap p li ed thi n ki n g is p rac ti cal- - the s o rt o f thi n k in g that i s requ i red to get
thi n gs d o n e!
GQ Ma g a zi ne , N e w Y o rk
Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n , s c i en ti s t an d lec tu rer, i s an i n tern ati o n al mo v er an d
s hak er.
Th e St e ve He lle r Sho w, K R EX C o lo ra do
CVST OB VS i s s o s i mp le y et i t really w o rk s !
U SA IR Ma g a zi ne
Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n an d the Sc hoo l o f T hi n ki n g are sp read i n g thei r i d eas . So me
p eo p le hav e d u b bed them the " Mc Do n ald ' s o f T hi n k in g" .
N a t i o na l Edu c a ti o n A ss o ci a t i o n, Wa s hi ng t o n.
Seld o m hav e I b een as exc i ted by th e p o ten ti al o f a p ro j ec t as I w as o n d i s cu s si n g
the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g w i th y o u .
R e a de rs D i ge s t , C o ve r St o ry, Wo rldwi de
H i s s ys tem has been ad o p ted b y c o rpo rate exec u ti v es , tau ght i n s c ho o ls and s tu di ed
by go v ern men t o ffi c i als .
ii
I i n tro d u c ed my thi n k in g s trate gy - CVS T O B VS - as ' s o ftw are fo r the b rai n ' an d
refe rred to the b r ai n as a ne c kto p com p u te r. It hi ghly amu s ed the IB M exec u ti v es in
the au d i en c e s o I k ep t ‘n ec k to p c o mpu ter’ i n my talk s fo r a lau gh. In 198 9 I w ro te i t
u p i n S o ft w ar e F o r The B r ain an d n o w i t' s c o mmo n c u rren c y .
iii
T hi s in terac ti v e exp eri en c e has help ed me ev o lv e man y o f the i d eas , to s tren gthen
the w eak er p arts an d to hav e a c lear er u n d ers tan d in g o f ho w p eo p le pu t thi s brain
s o ftw are i n to ac ti o n at ho me, at s c ho o l, i n s p o rt an d i n thei r d i v ers e c areers .
iv
fro m hi s v i ew p o in t to fi n d a mu c h better o n e.
On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s glo bal exp o rt o f DOS s o ftw ar e has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s
glo bal e xp o rt o f the lo g i c brai n s o ftw are.
vi
F o r o v er 10 0 y ears , Sec ti o n 116 has allo w ed all A u s trali an s to ben efi t fro m o u r great
c o mmo n w ealth o f reli gi o - d i v ers i ty . J u s t to men ti o n a few : A u s trali an s s hare the
lo n g ev o lu ti o n o f th e A bo ri gi n al d re a mi n g, the w i s d o m gai n ed fro m the s u fferi n g o f
J u d ai s m, the w armth o f the b ro th erh o o d o f Is lam, the c ha ri ty o f the Chri s ti an s w i th
thei r lo v e o f Go d an d fello w hu m an s bei n gs , the p eac e an d c o mp as s i on o f
B u d d his m, the p lu rali s m o f the H in du s , the T ao i s t res p ec t o f n atu re, the emp has i s
o n relati o n s hi ps an d man n ers o f Con fu c i ani s m, the s o c i al j u s tic e o f Mar xi s m, the
hu man i s t freed o m o f the li b erals , th e ho li s ti c ap p ro ac h o f the A fri c an s , the Si k hs
w i th thei r hu mo u r an d s in c eri ty , an d , a gro w i n g n u mber o f A u s trali an s - abo v e 2 5%
- w ho are fr ee to s tat e that they hav e n o reli gi o n at all .
vii
M ic h ae l H e w it t - Gl e e so n
Pr inc ipal S OT
M e l bo ur ne 2004
viii
Contents
DAY 1 OF 37............................................................................................................................. 1
Welcome to the School of Thinking. .................................................................................................................1
The School of Thinking Explained ....................................................................................................................1
The Daily Thinking Lesson ................................................................................................................................1
Day 2 OF 37 .............................................................................................................................3
Brainpower and Intelligence............................................................................................................................. 3
Cognitive Science............................................................................................................................................... 4
Brain software for better thinking.................................................................................................................... 5
Interpretation..................................................................................................................................................... 7
DAY 3 OF 37 ........................................................................................................................... 8
What if you had a virus in your brain?.............................................................................................................8
And, in YOUR brain??? ................................................................................................................................... 10
Ideaviruses, Memes and Memeplexes ........................................................................................................... 10
Plato the TruthFreak ....................................................................................................................................... 10
STC - The Problem and The Solution.............................................................................................................. 11
DAY 4 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................... 12
Cognitive Dissonance: From Flat Earth to Round Earth ............................................................................. 12
The Father of Modern Science........................................................................................................................ 13
Dosage of Dissonance...................................................................................................................................... 14
DAY 5 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................... 16
My-Teacher-is-Right-and-Your-Teacher-is-Wrong.......................................................................................17
Truth 'R' Us ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
Myths, Theories and Hypotheses ...................................................................................................................20
Bores and Bullies ............................................................................................................................................. 21
Today?...............................................................................................................................................................24
Experiment....................................................................................................................................................... 25
DAY 6 OF 37 ..........................................................................................................................26
DAY 7 OF 37...........................................................................................................................32
Always remember, if you don't do your own thinking, someone else will do it for you.............................33
Mail sorting and Labelling ..............................................................................................................................33
Aristotle's Silly Syllogism ................................................................................................................................34
No Contradictions, Please!.............................................................................................................................. 35
Judging Right from Wrong ............................................................................................................................. 35
Ancient Software..............................................................................................................................................36
Let's Be Fair......................................................................................................................................................36
Beyond Critical Thinking ................................................................................................................................36
DAY 8 OF 37 ......................................................................................................................... 38
Doctor Truth and The Truth ...........................................................................................................................38
Truth Machines................................................................................................................................................40
'Angelic Doctor' Truth .....................................................................................................................................40
Exporting the Virus ......................................................................................................................................... 41
DAY 9 OF 37 ..........................................................................................................................42
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xiv
T hi s i s y o u r in tro d u c to ry less o n . It w ill exp lai n the trai n i n g metho d o f SOT, tell y o u
s o methi n g abo u t u s , an d o u tli n e y o u r d ai ly les s o n s c hed u le.
Data In tel li gen c e i s o n ly n ec es s ary fo r the re lati v ely d u mb, u n thi n k i n g reac ti o n to
s i tu ati o ns - W ha t d o I d o ne xt? Ga me In tel li gen c e go es a s tep fu rthe r w here th e
i n d iv i du al as k s hi ms elf, W ha t d o I thi nk a b o u t ne xt? befo re as k i n g W hat d o I d o
ne xt?
Cognitive Science
Si n c e the 1970 s b ro u g ht th e exp lo s i o n o f the In fo rmati o n Rev o lu ti o n an d t he ri s e o f
p ers o n al c o mp u ters w e' v e bec o me ev en mo re i n teres ted i n the br ai n an d ho w i t
w o rk s . W ha t i s i nte lli g e nc e ? an d H o w c a n we i m p ro v e i t? are qu es ti on s bein g as k ed
i n a w ho le n ew fi eld o f s c i enc e d ev o ted to thes e thi n gs c alled - c o g ni ti v e s ci e nc e .
Li k e all hu man t rai ts - hei gh t, s tre n gth, s exu ali ty an d lo o k s etc - i n tel li gen c e i s
d i s tri bu ted u n equ ally . So me p eo p le hav e mo re i n telli gen c e than y o u d o an d s o me
hav e les s than y o u d o an d , o f c o u rs e, the s ame ap p li es to me.
H o w D o Y o u R a t e Y ou r B rai np o we r
I w i ll go o n lo o k in g fo r altern ati v e s u n ti l I fi n d o n e I
really li k e .
TOTA L SC OR E.
Interpretation
T hi s i s NOT a s ci en ti fic tes t. It' s j u s t an au d i t o r c hec k li s t to help y o u take s to c k o f
y o u r thi n k in g, that' s all! A trai n ed thi n k er c an d i rec t hi s o r her thi n k in g an d us e i t
i n a d eli berate m an n er to p ro d u c e an effec t. T o a t rai n ed an d s k i lled thi n k er,
thi n k i n g i s a to o l that c an b e u s ed a t w i ll an d the u s e o f thi s to o l i s p rac t i c al. T hi s
abi li ty to u s e ' thi n k i n g as a s k i ll' i s the s o rt o f thi n k i n g abi li ty that i s re qu i red to
get thi n gs DO NE .
If y o u r to ta l s c o re i n thi s tes t w as betw een 51 an d 60 p o i n ts , y o u alread y
p o s s ess s up eri o r b rai n p o w er.
If y o u s c o red b etw een 3 1 an d 50 p o in ts , y o u hav e better t han av era ge
brai n p o w er.
If y o u s c o red b etw een 0 an d 3 0 , y o u p o s s ess n o ad di ti o n al brai n p o w er
o ther th an the n atu ra l thi n k i n g abi li ty that mo s t p eo p le hav e.
R e c o rd you r sc o re .
( No te: K eep a r ec o rd o f thi s s c o re to c o mp are res u lts at the en d o f y o u r ST C
trai n i n g) .
T o d ay ' s hac k ers hav e han d les li k e Ac i d F re a k an d Cyb e rSa m . Plato ' s hand le w o u ld
w ell hav e b een T ru thF re a k s i n c e i t w as he w ho i n v en ted his ' tru th' c o nc ep t - the
s tran ge n o ti o n that the re i s s u c h a thi n g as ' abs o lu te tru th' .
10
fro m Pla to ' s ' tru th' i d ea an d thei r thi n k in g remai n s i n fec ted w i th thi s d an gero u s
v i ru s .
It w o u ld b e a d i ffi c u lt ( b u t w o rthw h i le) p ro j ec t to c alc u late the c o s t to hu man i ty
an d the s taggeri n g d es tru c ti o n c au s ed by PT V - Plato ' s ' tru th' v i ru s . It' s u n li k ely
that Plato had an y i d ea o f the e xtr em e c o n s equ en c es o f hi s i n v en ti on an y mo re th an
s o me o f to d ay ' s hac k ers w i ll hav e o f thei rs . H e w as j u s t hack in g aro u n d wi th
thi n k i n g.
11
If, tho u gh y o u tho u ght the ea rth w as flat, y o u w ere n o t s u p ers ti ti o u s ly c o mmi tted to
that v i ew y o u mi ght o n ly exp eri en c e a mi ld c as e o f c o gn i ti v e d i ss o n anc e. T hen , as
y o u fo llo w ed the ev i d en c e F red p res e n ted , y o u mi ght fi n d y o u r v i ew ev o lv i n g fro m
fla t e a rth to ro u nd e a rth.
12
Gali leo had c o n s tru c ted hi s teles c o p e to s ho w ho w th e ea rth rev o lv ed abo u t the s u n
an d n o t the s u n aro u n d the earth. Si nc e Co p ern i cu s adv an c ed thi s hy p o thes i s i t had
c au s ed great c o n tro v ers y . Ga li leo n o w had p ro o f.
13
Dosage of Dissonance
It may be that s o me o f the materi al i n this trai n in g gi v es y o u a c ertai n amo u n t o f
c o gn i ti v e d is s on an c e. It i s d i ffic u lt to d es i gn the i d eal d o s age o f d i ss o n an c e. W hat
i s fin e fo r s o me read ers an d is j us t en o u gh to help them to o p en up thei r mi n d wi ll,
o n the o ther han d , be to o s tro n g fo r o thers an d c au s e them to c lo s e d o w n .
14
A fter r ec ei v i n g the gen ero u s an d v alu able feed bac k o f hu n d red s o f read e rs
( es p ec i ally that o f my father w ho w as the fai res t man I ev er me t) I c o mp letely
rew ro te t he tr ai n i n g an d tri ed to fi nd a better balan c e betw een the i n fo r mati o n I
hav e left i n an d the i n fo rmati o n I hav e left o u t . T han k s to them i t' s a bett er trai n i n g
c o u rs e b u t the fau lts an d mi s tak es y ou may fi n d are s ti ll mi n e.
A t the en d o f the d ay , d ear brai n u s er, my o w n go al fo r thi s trai n i n g has alw ay s been
to gen er ate en o u gh c o gn i ti v e d i s s on an c e to mak e i t i n teres ti n g read i n g b u t n o t s o
mu c h as to c lo s e y o u r mi nd .
15
B o th So c rates an d Plato b ec ame tw o o f the gre ates t thi n k i n g hac k ers i n W es tern
hi s to ry . T o me , o n e o f th e mo s t fas c i n ati n g o f P lato ' s w o rk s i s Sy mp o s i um bec au s e
i t' s an i ns i ghtfu l ac c o u n t o f ho w i t all be gan at a ty p i c al d i n n er-p arty bac k i n
A then s , aro u n d 40 0 B C, w i th Plato , S o c rates an d a few fri en d s .
U h- o h! B i g mis tak e! !
16
My-Teacher-is-Right-and-Your-Teacher-is-Wrong
T he p ro b lem fo r the o bs e rv er i s the n u mber o f c o n fli c ti n g c lai ms o f o w n i n g a b s o lu te
tru th an d u ni q u e ri g htne s s . T he s e d u c ti v en es s o f PT V i s als o w hat ma k es i t s o
d es tru c ti v e an d d ead ly: ev ery o n e w ants to be the o n e w ho has T he T ru th. T herefo re,
ev ery o n e i n fec ted w i th the v i ru s c laims to be u n i qu ely ri ght an d that' s where the
c arn age begi n s .
17
Sad ly , thes e g reat teac he rs are o f ten u p s taged by greed y PT V- i n fec ted fr an c hi s ees
w ho c lai m to hav e exc lu s i v e ri ghts o n thei r teac he r' s i n tellec tu al p ro p erty . W ho c an
blame the o ri gi n al teac he rs fo r t he s i c k n es s o f thei r fo llo w ers ?
Peo p le hav e b ec o me mo re i n teres ted i n the ' tru th s tatu s ' o f the mes s age than the
mes s age i ts elf. Pe rhap s i t i s mo re i mp o rtan t to be an ' ef fec ti v e fo llo w e r' t han to be
a ' ri ght fo llo w er' .
Truth 'R' Us
H ere i s s mall s amp le o f PT V- i n fec ted c lai ms w hi c h hav e lo n g s i nc e u ps taged tho s e
c lai ms mad e by the o ri gi n al teac her:
Christian Science:
... i s u ne rri ng a nd Di v i ne ... o u t s i d e o f Chri s ti a n Sc i e nce a ll is va g u e a nd
hyp o the ti c a l, the o p p o s i te o f T ru th.
Seventh-Day Adventists:
the Ge ne ra l Co nfe re nc e o f Se v e nth-Da y A d v e nti s ts is the hi g he s t a u thori ty tha t
Go d ha s u p o n e a rth.
Jehovah's Witnesses:
... a lo ne a re Go d 's tru e pe o p le , a nd a ll o the rs wi tho u t e xc ep ti o n a re fo llo we rs o f
the De v i l ... A t A rm a g ed d o n a ll o f ea rth' s i nha b i ta nts e xc e p t Je ho v a h's W i tne s s es
wi ll b e wi p e d o u t o f e xi s te nce .
Mormons:
T he re i s no sa lv a ti o n o u ts i de the Chu rc h o f J e s us Chri s t o f La tte r- Da y Sa i nts ...
e v e ryb od y, u nle s s the y re p e nt a nd wo rk ri g hte o u s ne s s , wi ll b e d a m n e d e xc e pt
Mo rm o ns .
Christadelphians:
No ne b u t Chri s ta d e lp hi a ns c a n be s av e d .
Islam:
Mo ha m m e d is the m es se ng e r o f Go d ... the la s t, a nd fi na l e xp o ne nt o f Go d ' s m i nd ,
the s e a l o f the p ro p he ts .
The Divine Light Mission:
18
19
20
Examples:
W hen fri ghten ed by a thu n d ers to rm s o me thi n k ers exp lain ed i t as a
bu rs t o f Zeu s ' an ger. O the rs late r s ai d i t' s an elec tro s tati c p hen o men o n .
A n i lln ess c an be s een by so me as a v o o d o o s p ell o r by o thers as a v i ral
i n fec ti o n .
In an attemp t to p erfo rm thei r fu n c ti o n o f mak i n g s en s e o u t o f c hao s , my ths an d
s c i en ti fi c theo ri es w o rk on the s ame p ri n ci p le. T he v i ew that w e hu mans bu i ld o f
o u r w o rld i s alw ay s a p ro d u c t o f o u r i magi n ati o n .
T here i s a d i s ti n c ti on an d i t i s a c ru c i al o n e. PT V i s a p ro bl em bec au s e i t c an d i s to rt
the ho s t brai n ' s abi li ty to mak e thi s d i s tin c ti o n . T he v i ru s- i mp ai red brai n may be
u n ab le to d i s ti n gu is h b etw een i ts p aro c hi al exp eri en c e an d that o f o the r br ai n s .
21
F o r examp le, o n e la rg e, mu lti - lev el s o ap c o mp an y has s o bo red the mark etp lac e
w i th i ts PT V- ri d d led trai n in g p ro p agan d a an d Nu rembu rg- s ty le s ales ra lli es , that
i t' s no w to o as hamed to men ti o n i t' s o w n n ame to n ew p ro s p ec ts . Its s ales agen ts
are s o embar ras s ed they w o n ' t ev en ad mi t w hat bran d they s ell. It p ro ba bly c o mes
as n o s u rp ri s e that les s than 2 % o f thei r s ales agen ts ev er m ak e a p ro fi t.
Y es , the hu man b rai n i s an exp lan ati o n - man u fac tu ri n g mec han is m bu t that' s n o t the
s ame thi n g as e xp lai n i n g. Do n o ti c e t he d i fferen c e. B y c reati n g exp lan ati o n s to fi ll
i n the gap s w hen n eed ed , the br ai n help s to k eep s u s men tally s table. T hi s w i ll
alw ay s be a u s efu l p ro p erty o f the hu man brai n .
22
23
W he n two re li g i o ns a re s o s i m i la r a s to be a lm o s t i de nti c a l i n e v e ry si g ni fi c a nt
re s p ec t the n ta ke c o v e r, be ca u se the c o nfli c t b e twe e n the m wi ll be tru ly
m u rd e ro us . B u dd hi s ts a nd Pres b yte ria ns ge t a lo ng fa m ou s ly, b u t i f yo u a re se lli ng
i ns u ra nc e yo u wo u ld b e i ll- ad v i se d to s e t u p s ho p i n Pa le s ti ne o r Be lfa s t.
Today?
T hat' s all v ery s ad , o f c o u rs e, bu t tho s e med i ev al d ays are go n e n o w , aren ' t they ?
T o d ay w e li v e i n the A ge o f A q u ari us , the n ew mi llen n i u m, i sn ' t all that t r u th v i ru s
s tu ff rath er o ld hat an d ev en s li ghtl y alarmi s t to u s c o o l, lai d - bac k , d u d es ? ' F rai d
n o t! ...
F o r examp le, rec en t w o rld ' s head li n es w ere fi lled w i th s to ri es abo u t a gro u p i n
J ap an w ho s e id eas are v ery mu c h i nfec ted w i th the tru th v i ru s . T i m e magazi n e' s
c o v er s to ry ( A p ri l 3 , 19 95) i s abo u t a g ro u p that p o i s o n ed 3 ,00 0 T o k yo s u bw ay
c o mmu ters w i th n erv e gas .
24
A n d the n ame o f thi s p o s t- mod ern gro u p o f the 1990 ' s ? A u m Shin ri k y o w hic h mean s
- Supreme Truth!
Experiment
Si t qu i etly n o w fo r abo u t 3 to 5 minu tes an d n o ti c e the ac ti vi ty go i n g on in y o u r
brai n . T ry to n o ti c e the tho u gh t p att ern s , the d i s s o n anc e, the d ef en c es that PT V i s
w o rk i n g to p res erv e i ts s u rv i v al.
25
So , I fi n ally get to c o me o u t o f the clo s et. A ltho u gh I’v e n ev er, ev e r d en ied i t, I’v e
alw ay s been a li ttl e re ti c en t to p ro c la i m the fac t that – I a m a b ri g ht! W hat abo u t
y o u ? Do y o u w an t to c o me o u t o f that d ark o ld c lo s et w i th me? A re y o u a bri ght?
26
Qu en ti n Cri s p , the E n gli s h ac to r an d gay ri ghts c amp ai gn er rec alled : " W hen I to ld
the p eo p le o f No rthe rn Ire lan d that I w as an athei s t, a w o man in the au d i en c e s to o d
u p an d s ai d , ' Y es , b u t is i t the Go d o f the Catho li c s o r the Go d o f th e P ro te s tan ts i n
w ho m y o u d o n' t beli ev e? ’” B eatle and s on gw ri ter, J o hn Len n o n , may have been a
bri ght w hen he w ro te:
Im a g i ne the re ' s no he a ve n,
It' s e a s y i f yo u try,
No he ll b e lo w u s ,
A b o v e u s o nly s ky,
Im a g i ne a ll the p e o p le
li v i ng fo r to d a y
Other c el ebri ty bri gh ts are t he A u s trali an p hi lo s o p her Peter Si n ger, the Ic elan d
s i n ger B j ö rk , the c o s mo lo gi s t Carl Sagan , the femi n i s t Vi rgi n i a W oo lf, the Chi n es e
27
(La u g hi ng ) I c a nno t a ns we r t ha t!
Lo o k at i t as a d es i gn p ro j ec t.
The r e is no ne e d t o as k m e s u c h qu e s t io ns , Mi c h ae l. (la u g hi ng )
K i ndne s s … c om p a ss i o n … t hi s i s m y u ni ve rs a l re li g i o n. Si m ple r.
Wi t ho u t a ny p hi lo so p hy. Y o u k no w t hro u g h yo u r o wn e xp e rie nc e
28
N o ne e d fo r lo g ic !
N o ne e d fo r r e lig i o n!
N o ne e d fo r t em p le !
29
Th e re a re a ls o t ho s e who m i sc hie vo u s ly p re t e nd t o c o nf us e t he no u n wi t h
t he a djec t i ve i n o rde r t o c la i m t ha t s om e k i nd of a t he is t i c a rrog a nc e is
a f o o t . The a dje c t i ve br igh t , m e ans e ve r yt hi ng f rom s u nny, da zzl i ng a nd
ra di a nt t o c le ve r, g i f t e d a nd c he e rf u l a nd i s qu i t e a di s t i nc t c o nno t a t i o n.
It ’s no t ro c k e t s ci e nc e to di ff e re nt i a t e be t we e n a no u n a nd a n a dje c t i ve
a nd a ny s c ho o l k i d c a n do i t s o t he r e ’s no ne e d t o g o to t he t ro u ble o f
g e t t i ng t he m c o nf u se d.
B ri ghts are NOT c lai mi n g to b e c lev erer than beli ev ers they are j u s t s tand in g u p fo r
thei r ri g hts . A bri ght ( the n o u n ) i s the n ew w o rd fo r a n athei s t. B ri ghts s p ec i fi c ally
u s e the n ou n NOT the adj ec ti v e. A re there d i m an d d u ll bri ghts ? Certai n ly . A re
there bri g ht an d c lev er beli ev ers ? Of c o u rs e there are. On e c an s i mp ly n o te the
d i s tin c ti o n betw een the n o un an d the ad j ec ti v e.
30
31
Research
T he d i fferen t v i ew s o ffered i n thes e l es s o ns may n o t be the o n es pu s hed by man y o f
the mai n s tream au tho ri ti es bu t they are res ea rc hed an d p res en ted i n go o d fai th.
T he fac ts s tated c an eas i ly be c hec k ed o u t w i th y o u r o w n res earc h an d I e n c o u rage
y o u to d o s o . Go o gle mak es i t mu c h eas i er fo r y o u to d o thi s .
32
Always remember, if you don't do your own thinking, someone else will do it for you.
T hi s go es here, that go es the re , s ti c k thi s label o n thi s and that label o n that! Let' s
j u s t ti dy ev ery thi n g u p . Y es s i r. A p lac e fo r ev ery thi n g an d ev ery thi n g i n i t' s p lac e
w as A ri s to tle' s mo tto .
33
F o r examp le:
TR U TH : A ll s w ans are w hi te.
ITEM: T hi s i s a s w an .
LOGIC A L EXTEN SION : T h ere fo re i t i s w hi te.
Or,
TR U TH : Sales p eo p le tell li es .
ITEM: A my i s a s ales p ers o n .
LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re A my i s lyi n g.
Or,
TR U TH : Ou r c hu rc h i s the ri ght c hu r c h.
ITEM: Y o u ar e n o t a membe r.
LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re y o u are w ro n g.
Or,
TR U TH : T he eart h i s flat.
34
Or,
TR U TH : T he Pres i d en t i s the law .
ITEM: T he Pr es i d en t d i d s o methi n g.
LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re i t i s legal
( A ri s to tle' s Lo gi c s o ftw are c au s ed Ni xo n to beli ev e thi s w as s o ) .
Or,
TR U TH : A b o s s 's o pi n i on is bes t.
ITEM: Y o u ar e n o t a b o s s .
LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : So w hen w e w an t y o u r o p i ni o n w e' ll gi v e i t to yo u .
No Contradictions, Please!
F o r A ri s to tle, j u s t thi n k i n g w as n ' t go o d en o u gh. No , y o u hav e to thi n k lo gi c ally .
Lo gi c i s o bs es s ed w i th hu n ti n g d o wn c o n trad i c ti o ns . In lo gi c , a thi n g c an n o t be i n
bo x A an d b o x NOT A at the s ame ti me. No , i t mu s t be s o rt ed an d c las s i fi ed i n to the
' c o rrec t' bo x.
35
Ancient Software
A ri s to tle c rav ed o rd er . H e lo v ed the o rd er tha t hi s c las s i fic ati o n s bro u ght to hi s
i d eas an d tho u ghts . H e as s u med that the s ame o rd er t hat h e fo u n d he c o u l d i mp o s e
o n w o rd s an d lan gu age c o u ld als o be i mp o s ed o n the real w o rld . Man y h av e mad e
the s ame mi s tak e.
Let's Be Fair
H av i n g s ai d all thi s , let' s n o w be fai r. Of c o u rs e, A ri s to tle mad e a grea t c o n tri bu ti o n
that w as n eed ed at the ti me. My p o i nt i s ho w the u s e o f lo gi c has been s u bs equ en tly
d i s to rted by p eo p le, i n s ti tu ti on s an d s o c i eti es . W hat I am d o i n g i n the les s o n s is a
few thi n gs :
bei n g d eli berately p ro v o c ati v e
balan c i n g s o me o f the o bs es s i on w i th ' lo gi c ' by attac k i n g i ts ' my s ti qu e'
refe rri n g to the les s p rec i s e ' co mmo n u s age' o f lo gi c n o t the ' ac ad emic
p rec i s i on ' o f lo gi c as A ri s to tle hi ms elf s et i t ou t. Often w hen the av erage
p ers o n s ays ' s ales men tell li es ' they behav e as tho u gh th ey real ly s ai d
' A LL s ales men tell li es ' etc .
B y 198 3 , SOT thi nk i n g les so n s had alread y reac hed o v er 50 mi lli o n p eop le. T hi s w as
tho u gh SOT ' s Le a rn- to - T hi nk Pro j e c t w hi c h I s tarted w i th E d w ard d e B o n o i n 198 0
i n New Y o rk .
36
W ha t wo u ld I e xp e c t fro m a m e m be r o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n ki ng ?
I w o u ld exp ec t a trai n ed p ers on to p os s es s a great d eal o f w i s d o m an d c o mmo n
s en s e. T hi s aris es fro m an abi li ty to s ee an y si tu ati o n i n a bro ad p ers p ec ti v e.
W i s d o m i s qu i te d i fferen t fro m the s o rt o f c lev ern es s that i s tau ght i n scho o l.
Clev ern es s may be alri ght fo r d eali n g w i th p u zzles bu t w is d o m i s requ i red fo r
d eali n g w i th li fe.
37
T hes e n ext few les s o n s w e' ll exp lo re ho w PT V w as p i c k ed u p and s p read thro u gho u t
the W es tern w o rld , i n fec ti n g mi lli o n s o f mi n ds and k i llin g mi lli o n s o f hu man bei n gs
an d s ti ll flo u ri s hi n g 2 50 0 y ears later.
38
On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s exp o rt o f Bi ll Gates ' DOS has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s exp o rt o f
T ho mas A qu in as ' PT V.
39
matc h T RU T H ?
LOGICA L CONC LU SION: If Y E S, then i t is RIGH T an d i t is T RU TH . If NO, then i t is
W RONG an d i t i s H E RE SY .
Truth Machines
I w as o n c e i n A ms terd am an d p ai d a v i s i t to the n o to ri o u s In qu i s i ti o n 's T o rtu re
Mu s eu m. T hi s p o p u lar to u ri s t s p o t featu res a c o ll ec ti o n o f the ' t ru th mac h i n es ' , the
extrao rd i n ary array o f m ac abre mac hi n es , rac k s , to n gs , an d s p i k es .
40
Si n c e then , ' T he T ru th' has b een c arri ed to all p arts o f the w o rld w i th mi s s io n ary
zeal. In fac t, W es te rn ed u c ati o n may be med i ev al E u ro p e' s mo s t s uc c ess fu l exp o rt.
41
42
In the p as t few c hap ters w e' v e been lo o k i n g at s o me o f the c o ns equ en ces o f the
au tho ri tari an ap p ro ac h to thi n k i n g p ro c eed i n g fro m the i d eas o f Pl ato , A ri s to tle an d
A q u in as . B u t the ri c hn es s o f hu man thi n k i n g has p ro d u c ed o ther alte rn at i v es an d
n o w w e c an exami n e the i d eas o f s o me w ho hav e gi v en thei r s u p p ort to the
s o v erei gn ap p ro ac h to thi n k i n g.
43
A t that ti me, Ro me c lai med that i t, an d i t alo n e, had the o n ly ti ck et to s alv ati o n . If
y o u w an ted to get to H eav en then y o u bo u ght y o u r ti c k et f ro m i ts r ep res en tati v es o n
the o n ly fli g hts s c hed u led to get the r e. " Y o u fly w i th u s . Y o u bu y o u r ti c k et o r y o u
d o n ' t go to H eav en at all! T hat' s i t. T ak e i t o r leav e i t . Y o u ' re i n o r y o u ' re o u t" .
44
The Scheme
T he Po p e, the Ro man Cu ri a an d c leri c s feather ed thei r n es ts ( amas si n g hu ge
fo rtu n es ) by s elli n g to the T ru e B eli ev ers ti c k ets to H eav en i n the fo rm o f
i n d u lgen c es . T hi s is ho w they p u lled i t o ff. In a ll th ei r H o ly A u tho ri ty , t he p o p es
an d c lergy w o u ld d raw u p lo n g li s ts o f ac ti v i ti es relati n g to ev e ry d ay hu man
behav i o u r an d p o si ti o n them as 's i ns '. So , ev e ry d ay w hen y o u c o mmi tted yo u r ' s i ns '
y o u attrac ted d ebi ts p o i n ts that p rev en ted y o u getti n g i n to H eav en .
45
46
F o r examp le:
J o hn XX III, s ai d " I am n o t in falli ble" an d c alled Vati c an II to
d emo n s trate i t.
Pau l V I s ho w ed grea t c o mp as s i o n to c lergy o p p o s i n g c eli bac y releas i n g
them fro m thei r v o w s .
J o hn Pau l I w an ted to c lean - u p the Vati c an ban k fo r w hi c h s o me, li k e
i n v es ti gati v e j o u rn alis t, Dav i d Gallo p , s ay he w as mu rd ered .
J o hn Pau l II w as w o un d ed an d v ery n early ass as s in ated fo r help i n g
Ro n ald Reagan to d efea t the ' ev i l' Ru s s i an E mp i re.
47
And he did!
Leo to o k p ap al greed to n ew hei ghts that tri v i ali ze the w o rs t exc es s es o f the 198 0 ' s .
In s tead o f gi v i n g ev ery thi n g up fo r Chri s t, Leo grabb ed ev ery thi n g he c o u ld , i n
Chri s t' s n ame. H i s to ry rec o rd s the fo l lo w i n g:
Leo had 68 3 c o u rti ers o n hi s p ay ro ll, an o rc hes tra , a th eat re an d a
men ageri e o f w i ld an i mals i n c lu di n g a W hi te E lep han t that w o u ld bo w
to Leo thr ee ti mes .
Leo gav e B ac c han ali an ban qu ets o f 65 c o u rs es featu ri n g s u c h d eli c aci es
as p eac o c k' to n gu es , n i ghti n gales fly i n g o u t o f p i es and n ak ed bo ys
j u mp in g o u t o f p u d di n gs .
Defy i n g c an o n law , Leo p lan n ed hu n tin g tri p s fo r w eek s o n en d .
H i s Ro man bro thels , w i th 7,0 0 0 regi s tered p ro s ti tu tes in a p o p u lati on
o f 50 ,0 0 0 s ti ll d i d n ' t bri n g in en o u gh i n c o me fo r Po p e Leo .
H e w as a gamb le r an d bi g s p en d er bo rro w i n g v as t s u ms fro m ban k ers at
40 % i n teres t.
A ltho u gh s i mo n y - the buy i n g an d s elli n g o f s ac red thi n gs - w as a c ri me,
Leo i n v en ted 2 ,150 p ap al o ffi c es an d p o s i ti on s and au c ti on ed them o ff.
Card i n al' s Red H ats w en t fo r aro u n d 3 0 ,0 0 0 du c ats . A nd s o o n .
48
Luther's Pamphlets
Lu ther fo u gh t bac k w i th a n ew w eapo n . Lu c k w as on Lu ther' s s id e. Gu ten berg had
o n ly rec en tly i n v en ted the p ri n ti n g p res s an d Lu ther n o t o n ly o ffi ci ally s u bmi tted
hi s argu men ts i n Lati n to ec c les i as ti cal au tho ri ti es bu t a ls o w ro te t hem i n hi s n ati v e
German to n gu e an d p u bli s hed hi s p amp hlets fo r gen er al d i s tri bu ti o n to the German
p eo p le.
Di s tri bu ti o n o f Lu ther' s p amp hlets to the gen eral p u bli c bro k e the Chu rc h' s
mo n o p o ly o n i n fo rmati o n an d his argu men ts d i rec tly c hall en ged th e Po p e' s
au tho ri ty . T he p eo p le an d the lo c al G erman p ri n c es had en o u gh! T hey s to o d behi n d
Lu ther an d p ro tec ted hi m fro m the w rath of Po p e Leo w ho , of c o u rs e,
exc o mmu n i c ated hi m. W hen Lu ther rec ei v ed hi s c o p y o f the Po p e' s B u ll o f
E xc o mmu n ic ati o n , he s i mp ly b u rn t i t i n d efi anc e, s ay i n g, " T he d ie i s c as t. I d e s p i se
the fu ry a nd fa v o u r o f Ro m e . I wi ll ha v e no re c o nc i lia ti o n wi th the p o p e fo r a ll
e te rni ty."
Sovereign Thinker
H e w as d eep ly flaw ed as an an ti- Semi te an d d i d a great d eal o f ha rm to h i s J ew is h
brethe ren . i n sp i te o f that, I s ti ll feel thes e w o rd s abo v e are en o u gh to mak e Marti n
Lu ther o n e o f t he g reat es t s o v erei gn t hi n k ers i n his to ry an d his examp le o f d efi an c e
c an be fo llo w ed .
U s i n g the n ew tec hn o lo gy o f the p rinti n g p res s to s p read his id eas , Lu ther bec ame
the fi rs t thi n k er ev e r to b ri n g hi s arg u men t to the gen e ral p u bli c . H i s exa mp le, s o o n
fo llo w ed by o thers li k e Calv i n , began the u n rav elli n g o f the au tho ri ty o f Ro me that
led to the Re fo rma ti o n .
49
Modern Martins
T o my mi n d , there ar e man y mo d ern d ay " Marti n Lu the rs " w ho are w i lli n g to d e fy
the p o p e. F o r examp le , the re are the hi ghly p u bli c is ed Mad o nn a' s and Sin ead ' s o f
the w o rld . B u t there a re als o , li k e B ro ther Ma rti n , the c ler gy o f the c hu rc h. T here
are the m an y n u n s an d p ri es ts li k e the A u s trali an p ri es t, F athe r Pau l Co l li n s , w ho
has d efi ed the p o p e i n hi s exp os e o n mo d ern d ay ' Pap al Po w er' w hi c h i s the n ame o f
hi s bo o k w herei n he s ay s , " Ju s t as the mo d el o f the abs o lu te mo n arc h o r d i c tato r
p lac es the ru le r n o t o n ly abo v e the s t ate an d i ts law s bu t abo v e s o c i ety i ts elf, s o t he
p ap ali s t in terp retati o n s o f p ri mac y an d in falli bi li ty [ mak e] the Po p e i n to s o me ty p e
o f s o lo gu ru an d i n termed i ary betw ee n Go d an d the c hu rc h."
F o r thes e an d o ther w o rd s , F ather C o lli n s has alread y s u ffered at the han d s o f the
Vati c an ' s au tho ri tari an i n qu is i to rs an d hi s Au s trali an Co n s ti tu ti on al ri ghts may
hav e been i llega lly c o n trav en ed .
The Internet
Perhap s the In te rn et i s the n ex t b i gges t le ap fo r s o v e rei gn thi n k ers s i n c e the
p ri n ti n g p res s . Perhap s the w w w i s bec o mi n g the n ew med i u m that w i ll p ro v i d e a
fres h ho p e fo r i n d i v i d u als w ho w i s h to thi n k fo r thems elv es an d w ho , li k e B ro the r
Marti n , w i s h to d e fy the au tho ri ta ri an i s m that s ti ll e xi s ts i n man y of to d ay ' s
i n s ti tu ti on s i n Bi g Go v ern men t, B i g R eli gi o n an d B i g B us in es s .
50
51
Co mp eti n g tru ths are n o w gi v i n g w ay to thi s n ew ' mo re li k ely tru th' bec aus e o f the
w ei ght o f ev i d en c e p ro v id ed b y the COB E s atelli te. W e n o w s ee sc i en ti s ts li k e Dav i d
Sp ergal , the p ro p o n en t o f a c o mp eti n g theo ry ( the tex tu res v ers i o n o f to p o lo gi c al
d efec t theo ry ) d ec lari n g af ter the rele as e o f the COB E ev i d en c e " W e' re d ead."
52
Cri c k w as an athei s t. H e w an ted to exp o s e the ' my s teri es ' o f the i llu s i o n o f v i tali s m.
H e later s ai d , " My o wn m o ti v e s I ne v e r ha d a ny d ou b t a b ou t; I wa s v e ry c le a r i n
m y m i nd . I c ho s e wha t we no w c a l l m o le c u la r b i o lo g y, tho u g h the te rm wa s n' t
c o m m o n the n, c e rta i nly I d i d n' t kn o w i t - b u t I wo u ld ha v e sa i d the bo rd e rli ne
b e twe e n the li v i ng a nd the no n li v i ng . T ha t wa s the p hra s e I ha d i n m y m ind ."
53
T hey c o u ld be s een ev ery w here i n an imated c o n v ers ati o n , hav i n g tea, i n ha llw ay s , i n
lab o rato ri es , i n the lo c al p u b - s o ev en tu ally they w ere gi v en a ro o m to w o rk i n
to gethe r s o as n o t to d i s tu rb the res t o f the res ea rc hers . Say s Cri c k , " W e m u s t hav e
go t the rep u tati o n by that ti me o f rat her ta lk i n g to gethe r a lo t."
W ats o n and Cri c k laun c hed tw o s ep arate attac k s , i n p arallel, o n the d i s c o very o f the
s tru c tu re o f DNA . T he fi rs t en d ed in d is as ter. T he s ec o n d w as a s u c c ess bey o nd
an y thi n g they had hop ed fo r. T he p ro j ec t requ i red an en o rmo us amo u n t o f
i n tellec tu al effo rt an d res earc h , i n v olv i n g man y c ri tic al c o n tri bu ti o ns by a n u mber
o f o ther res earc he rs .
F i n ally , Cri c k an d W ats o n c rac k ed t he gen eti c c o d e. T hey p u bli s hed thei r i d eas i n
the fi rs t o f th ree arti c les i n Na tu re , o n 2 5 A p ri l 19 53 . It w as a th ree- p age a rti c le
en ti tled Mo lec u la r St ru c tu re o f N u c lei c A ci d s . T he arti c le i n c lu d ed the fi rs t
p u bli s hed di agram o f the mo lec u lar s tru c tu re o f t hei r, n o w famo u s d o u ble heli x ,
( w hi c h lo o k s a bi t li k e a lad d er y o u mi ght fi n d i n Es c her' s c lo s et) .
What is life?
T he u n i v ers al s y s tem o f all li fe o n th i s p lan et i s bas ed on a fu n d amen tal c o d e an d
that c o d e w as bro k en by F ran c is Cri ck an d J ames W ats o n i n 1953 . Si n c e thes e men
u n rav elled the mo lec u lar s tru c tu re o f the gen e o u r w o rld h as u n dergo n e a
c o n ti nu i n g an d exp lo di n g s eri es of rev o lu ti o n ary i n s i ghts . T hes e s c i en ti fi c
d ev elo p men ts s ho w no s i gn o f s lo w ing d o w n an d n o thin g c an ev er be the s ame.
54
Digital Genes
W e n o w k n ow that gen es are d i g i tal. T hey ar e lo n g s tri n gs o f p u r e d i gi tal
i n fo rmati o n . Li k e CDs an d c o mp u ters , the c o d e o f li f e - al l li fe - i s mi ghty d i gi tal i n
i ts i n tern al s tru c tu re. W he reas the b i n ary c o d e o f c o mp u ters has tw o s ymbo ls , i n
li fe the c o d e i s q u atern ary w i th fo u r s y mbo ls . Otherw i s e they ' re d i gi tal ly th e s ame.
55
Dec o d i n g the hu man gen o me- - the text o f li fe- - i s an o ther great c o n s equ en ce o f Cri c k
an d W ats o n 's w o rk . It has been c o mp ared w i th the i n v en ti o n o f the w heel an d
lan d i n g o n the mo o n .
So , i f li fe i s d i gi tal an d kn o w able the ' my s tery o f my s teri es ' has ev ap o rated . W hat
effec t d o es that hav e o n us as s o v erei gn thi n k ers . In w hat w ay has the feat o f
W ats o n an d Cri c k help ed to free u s fro m au tho ri tari an i s m? In w hat w a y has the
w o rk o f thes e tw o s ci en ti s ts ad d ed a qu an tu m leap to o u r freed o m as s o v erei gn
thi n k ers ?
56
57
58
Brain Vain
A brai n v ai n thi n k er i s o n e w ho is s ufferi n g f ro m o p i n i o n p ri d e. T hi s PT V- i n fec ted
brai n u s er i s u n able to s ee a bett er w ay o f lo o k i n g at thi n gs . B ec au s e the brai n v ai n
thi n k er i s s o p ro u d o f her o r hi s o wn o p i ni o n they fin d i t d i ffi cu lt to d o an y o ther
k i n d o f thi nk i n g b u t to d efen d i t.
T he mo re i n tel li gen t th e br ai n v ai n thi n k er, the mo re t hey may s u ffer fro m thi s k i nd
o f c o gn i ti v e c o n c ei t. Very b ri ght thi n k ers w ho are PT V- i n fec ted may be on ly us i n g
thei r brai n p o w er to d efen d thei r o p i n i on . T hey are u n able to es c ap e fro m thei r
v i ew p o in t to lo o k fo r a mu c h b ette r o n e.
59
Space Glutton
In a meeti n g, the s p ac e glu tto n alw a y s tak es u p c on si d erably mo re than hi s o r her
fai r s hare o f ai r ti me. Sp ac e g lu tto n s may s u ffer f ro m o u tp u t man i a, the i n abi li ty to
s hu t- u p .
Lazy Critic
Lazy c ri ti c s s u ffer fro m mi s tak e- p ho bi a, the mo rbi d fear o f ev er mak i n g a mi s tak e.
T he PT V- i n fec ted b rai n has an av ers i o n to ev er bei n g w ro n g. It c o mes fro m o u r
med i ev al habi t o f lo o k i n g at the w o rl d thro u gh the c o n c ep t o f " ri g ht" an d " w ro n g"
( n o t s hared as mu c h b y o ther c u ltu res li k e the J ap an es e) .
60
61
The Truth
T he i d ea that t here i s an o b j ec ti v e tr u th, w as i n v en ted by Plato . St ro n g d efen c e o f
T he T ru th d i mi n i s hes the thi n k er' s abi li ty to es c ap e fro m hi s v i ew p o i n t to fi n d a
mu c h b etter o n e. T hi s c o n d i ti o n i s c alled PT V, Pl ato T ru th Vi ru s .
On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s glo bal exp o rt o f B i ll Gates ' DOS has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s
glo bal e xp o rt o f T ho m as A qu i n as ' PT V.
Unfair Conclusion?
It i s o n ly w i th the u n fai r ad v an tage o f hi n d s i ght that o n e i s able to lo o k b a c k o n the
ev o lu ti o n o f o u r t hi n k i n g hab i ts an d c o n si d er the c o n s equ en c es that they may hav e
p ro d u c ed .
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s u mmer n i ghts ?
H mmm ; - )
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Co gn eti c s b rai n s o ftw are, o r n eu ro w are, ar e hi ghe r o rd er e xec u ti v e p att ern s that
y o u c an us e to d eli b erately :
1. tak e c o n tro l o f y o u r at ten ti o n , an d
2. man i p u late y o u r o w n p erc ep ti on .
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Y o u r p ro b lems o r o p p o rtu n i ti es are o ften p ers o n al, bu s i n es s , fami ly , rec reati o n al,
ac ad emi c , s c i en ti fi c , p hy si c al, o r p hi lo s o p hi c al.
T he b rai n s o ftw are - SDNT CVST OB V S QRH PRR - ( i n tro d u c ed in the n ext c hap ter)
w i ll k eep y o u aw are o f s trat egi c o p ti o n s y o u c an u s e i n si tu ati o n s that c o n fro n t y o u .
T hi s trai n in g w i ll exp lai n thes e s trategi es an d y o u r in c reas ed s ki lls w i ll gi v e y o u a
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SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R
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H o w man y n ec k top us ers are there? T here are p res en tly o v er 6 bi lli o n n ec kto p u s ers
o n p lan et earth. T hi s n u mber i s i ncreas i n g at the rate o f 3 n ec k to p u sers ev ery
s ec o n d o r 1.7 mi lli o n ev ery w eek .
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W ell, y o u are!
Units of Intellect
T ak e a c lo s er lo o k . T he ato ms o f y o u r brai n a re c al led n erv e c e lls o r n eu ro n s . E ac h
n eu ro n i s y o u r fu n d amen tal i n tellec tu al u n i t - an i n fo rmati o n - p ro c ess i n g s y s tem.
T he bas i c p ro d u c t o f thes e u n i ts i s: mes s agi n g.
Neu ro n s are p erf ec tly d es i gn ed mes s agi n g s y s tems . T hey hav e tw o en d s : a rec ei v i n g
en d an d a tran s mi tti n g en d ( o r an i n pu t en d an d an o u tp u t en d ) .
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69
STA R T
What is starting?
It c an b e v ery d i ffi c u lt to s tart thi n gs . On c e y o u get s tarted there i s mo me n tu m and
feed bac k bu t getti n g s tarted c an be d iffi c u lt. Mo s t rac es are lo s t n o t at the fi n i s hi n g
li n e bu t at the s ta rti n g b lo c k s . W hy ? B ec au s e mo s t p eo p le n ev er ev en en ter the rac e!
T hey j us t n ev er get s tarted . W as n ' t i t Lao - T zu w ho p o in ted o u t that all j o u rn eys
begi n w i th o n e s tep .
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F o r y ears i t' s been a co mmo n beli ef in s elli n g that mo s t s ales w ere lo s t at the c lo s e.
In o ther w o rd s , s ales p eo p le w ere mi s s in g s ales bec au s e they w ere n o t ' c lo s i n g'
them. Ou r res earc h s ho w ed that thi s i s a gran d i llu s i o n . T he w ho le i s s u e o f ' c lo s i n g
the s ale' i s a n o ns en s e and I hav e o ffered a rew a rd o f $ 10 0 ,0 0 0 to the fi rs t p ers o n
w ho c an p ro v e the s ales p ers o n c lo s es the s ale.
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2. to s to p thei r o b s es si o n w i th ' the c lo se' an d all the arc hai c man i pu lati o n
tac ti c s that c u s to mers hate an d w hi c h hav e gi v en the s el li n g p ro fes s i o n
s u c h a bad i mage.
F o c u s in g o n the s tart - C! - rather than the ' c lo s e' , red u c es the rej ecti o n and
d i s app o in tmen t s ales p eo p le feel w hi c h s o effec ts thei r en ergy lev els . C! al l o w s them
to i n i ti ate man y mo re c u s to mer c o n tac ts .
MBO or MBS?
H o w to s tart? Mo s t p lans are fu ll o f d etai ls o n how to get to the fi ni s hin g li n e bu t
c o n tai n li ttle o r n o thi n g abo u t how to get to the s ta rti n g blo c k s . Y et n o thi n g
hap p en s un ti l s o meo n e ST A RT S s o methi n g. F o r man y y ears i n bu s i n ess w e hav e had
MB O o r Man a gemen t B y Ob j ec ti v es . Perhap s w e als o n eed MB S o r Man ag emen t B y
Starti n g.
Man y man agemen t gu ru s w ri te bo o ks abo u t " Go al- Setti n g" . May be they s ho u ld als o
w ri te bo o k s ab o u t " Star t- Getti n g" s i n c e, mo s t o f the ti me, mo s t p eo p le n ev er get
s tarted .
Strategic Act
Strate gy i s abo u t c o n tro l. If y o u are i n c o n tro l y o u are i n a s trategi c p o s i ti o n , i f y o u
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Where to start?
A n y w here i s a go o d p lac e to s tart. Si r Y ehu d i Men u hi n s tarted p lay i n g the v i o li n at
ho me w hen he w as fo u r . H o me i s a go o d p lac e to s ta rt. H e mad e hi s p r o fes s i o n al
d ebu t, w hen he w as s ev en , i n San F ran c i sc o . San F ran c i sc o i s a go o d p lac e to s tart .
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When to Start?
T here i s real ly o n ly o n e ti me to s tart an d that ti me i s the mo men t c all ed .. . No w ! W e
n eed to c rea te as man y No w ! mo men t s fo r s ta rti n g as p o s s i ble. J u s t s u p p o se a No w !
mo men t i s o n e s ec on d . In o ther w o rd s , let' s d efi n e the ti me i t tak es to s tart
s o methi n g as o n e s ec on d . H ere are s o me examp les :
Mistake-phobia
Mi s tak e- p ho bi a is the mo rbi d fear o f mak i n g a mi s tak e. It' s an av ers i o n to ev er
bei n g w ro n g. It c o mes fro m o u r med iev al habi t o f lo o k i n g at the w o rld thro u gh the
c o n c ep t o f " ri ght" an d "w ro n g" ( n o t shared by o ther c u ltu res li k e the J ap an es e) .
Have a go!
On e w ay to c u re mi s tak e- p ho bi a i s to ac c elerate o u r w i lli n gn es s to hav e a go , to get
s tarted an d get bu s y . W hen y o u hav e a go , o n e o f tw o thi n gs hap p en s:
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1. Y o u mak e a mi s tak e, o r
2. Y o u mak e an u n - mi s tak e.
B o th thes e o u tc o mes a re u s efu l res u l ts o f s tar ti n g, t hey j u s t hav e d i ffe ren t v alu es .
In erti a may hav e n o v alu e at all .
Co mp u ters are n o t afrai d o f mi s tak es an d are rap i d ly c atc hi n g up . T o d ay 's c ars hav e
mo re c o mp u ti n g p o w er than the w hole w o rld had 40 y ears ago . T hey are bec o mi n g
les s ' c o mp u ter- as s i s ted c ars ' and mo re li k e ' d ri v eable c o mp u ters ' Where w i ll
c o mp u ters b e i n the n ext 40 y ears ? In the n ext 40 0 y ears ?
Lazy Critic
Lazy c ri ti c s s u ffer fro m mi s tak e- p ho bi a. T he PT V- i n fec ted brai n w i ll tu rn the mo s t
amazi n g c o gn i ti v e s o mers au lts to avo i d bein g ' w ro n g' . W hen a brai nu s er tri es to
c reate s o methi n g, s /he n ev er real ly k n o w s w hat w i ll hap p en . T here i s alw ay s ri s k
an d u n c ertai n ty . Ri sk i s en o u gh to k eep the mi s tak e- p ho bi ac hid i n g in i n erti a.
B u t, remembe r, n o thi n g hap p en s u n ti l s o meo n e ST A RT S s o methin g. So ren
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Starting by Asking
T o as k i s o n e w ay to s tart. M rs . R o bert Le e K i d d s tarted s o methi n g s i mp ly by
w alk i n g in to the o ffi c e o f the San F ran c i sc o E xamin er o n May 2 , 1962 and p lac in g
her ad v erti s emen t w hi c h as k ed fo r th e fo llo w i n g:
" I d o n ' t w an t my hu s ban d to d i e i n the gas c hambe r fo r a c ri me he d i d n o t c o mmi t. I
w i ll there fo re o f fer my s erv i c es fo r 1 0 y ears as a c o o k , mai d o r ho u s ek eeper to an y
lead i n g atto rn ey w ho w i ll d efen d hi m an d bri n g abo u t hi s v in d ic ati o n ."
On e o f San F ran c i s c o' s mos t emi n ent atto rn ey ' s , Vi n c en t H alli n an res p on d ed and
p ro v ed i n c o u rt that the s w o rd w as n o t the mu rd er w eap o n afte r a ll. Su bs equ en tly
bo th hu s ban d an d w i fe w en t free . H al li n an grac i o u s ly refu s ed to tak e u p M rs . K i d d ' s
o ffer o f 10 y ears s erv i c e. A s k an d rec ei v e! As k in g i s o n e w ay o f s tarti n g.
Getting Started
T he hard es t p ar t abo u t getti n g s ta rte d i s ... g etti n g s ta rted ! T hi s i s a c i rcu lar t rap
that i s di ffi c u lt to get o u t o f an d i s the c au s e o f a lo t o f i n erti a. T he w ay I get
s tarted i s to w ri te d o w n a li s t o f 10 thi n gs I c an d o to get s tarted , then I j u s t c ho o s e
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the o n es I li k e.
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DO
W hat i s d oi n g? No id ea i s o f any real v alu e u n ti l i t gets u s ed . If an id ea nev er gets
u s ed , w hy ev en k no w abo u t i t?
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T o d ay ' s cy berk n i ghts , li k e thei r an c i en t bro thers , are the grea t qu es ter s o f the
i n fo rmati o n age. T hey u s e s earc h en g i n es rather than s i ege en gi n es . T hey d o n ' t u s e
c hai n mai l b u t they d o us e emai l. T hey s u rf c y beri a on thei r lap to p in s tead o f
s ai li n g to Ou tremer o n thei r w ars hi ps . B u t, they ' re o u t there, an d thi s i s j u s t the
begi n n i n g.
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Do it bad!
My fri en d , L es li e B u c k lan d , w as Pr es i d en t o f Cari bi n er In c . i n New Y o rk , t he
w o rld ' s larg es t p ro d u c er o f bu s i n es s meeti n gs . Les li e o ften u s ed to s ay , " If
s o methi n g i s w o rth d oi n g i t' s w o rth d o i n g bad ly ." W hy ? Do es n' t thi s s eem a
c o n trad i c ti o n fo r a man th at w as k n o w n i n tern ati o n ally fo r s etti n g the s ta n d ard s o f
qu ali ty i n b us i n es s meeti n gs ?
Very o ften the re' s n o " ri ght w ay " to d o thi n gs . Les , an d o ther p eo p le o f a c ti o n , li k e
trau ma s u rgeo n s o r as tro n au ts , k n o w that o n e has to get s tarted an d d o s omethi n g,
get the p ro c es s mo v i n g.
Using Questions
F o r an exp eri men t ( th at i s , to t ry o u t an d s ee w hat h ap p en s ) try as k i n g qu es ti o n s
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li k e thes e:
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NOTICE
A s men ti on ed b efo re, c o gn eti c s c o mes fro m the w o rd s ' c o gn i ti v e cy bern eti c s ' .
Co gn i ti v e, o f c o u rs e, mean s to d o w i th ' thi n k in g' an d cy bern eti c s means to d o w i th
' feed bac k ' . In o the r w o rd s , c o gn eti c s i s thi n k in g bas ed o n feed bac k . T he re as o n y o u
thi n k is s o that y o u c an n o ti c e the feed bac k c reated by y o u r thin k in g and ac ti o n .
T hi s feed b ac k then bec o mes the s ti mu lu s fo r fu rthe r thi n k i n g. T hi n k i n g ... F eed bac k
... T hi n k i n g etc .
Objectivity
T he bas i s o f all s c i enc e is o b s erv ati on an d meas u remen t - n o ti c in g thi n gs. A c lev er
brai n u s er i s a c lev er n o ti c er an d a c le v er n o ti c er i s o bj ec ti v e. T he s k i ll o f n o ti c i n g i s
o bj ec ti v i ty . Detac hmen t i s als o i mp o rtan t i n n o ti c i n g thi n gs . W i th d etac hmen t y o u
c an hav e a b ro ad er , c lea rer v i ew o f th e s i tu ati o n .
In fac t, n o ti c i n g thi n gs i s the bas is of c o n tro lli n g thi n gs . T hi s c hamp agn e s i tu ati o n
i s an examp le o f a " feed bac k s y s tem" . No ti c i n g an d meas u ri n g fe ed bac k i n s y s tems
i n o rd er to c o n tro l tho s e s ys tems is w hat c y bern eti c s i s all abo u t. No t i c i n g the
feed bac k c reated by y o u r thi n ki n g, i n o rd er to c o n tro l i t, i s w hat c o gn i ti v e
c y bern eti c s o r c o gn eti c s i s all abo u t.
Cybernetics
Du ri n g W W II, D r. No rb ert W ei n er ( Pro fes s o r of Math emati c s at MIT -
Mas s ac hu s etts In s ti tu te of T ec hn olo gy ) i n v en ted c y bern eti cs , as a bo d y of
mathemati c s to he lp an ti - ai rc raft tec hn o lo gy an d als o to he lp o u r u n d ers t an d i n g o f
men tal ac ts v i a fo rmal s y s tems an aly s i s .
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Feedback Loops
A s w i th man y o ther ad v an c es , thi s k i n d o f tec hn o lo gy has been lar gely d ev elo p ed by
mi li tary s c i en tis ts . Mi s si les w o rk the s ame w ay , w i ggli n g to thei r tar get by u si n g
heat s en s o rs to lo c ate the ta rge t' s en gi n e an d n o ti ci n g the feed bac k i n o rd er to
mak e a ru d d er o r ro c k et ad j u s tmen t. No ti c i n g the feed bac k i s the c en tral ac ti v i ty
that al lo w s the mi s s i le to reac h i ts go al.
Cy bern eti c s i s all abo u t s erv o - mec ha n i s ms , go al- s eek i n g behav i o u r, feed b ac k lo o p s ,
p o s i ti v e and n egati v e feed b ac k s y s tems , s elf- s tabi li zi n g s y s tems , ho meo s tas i s and
the c o n tro l o f s y s tems , an d ho w they mi ght ap p ly to bi o lo gi c al o r mec han i c al
s y s tems .
T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . .
T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . .
T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . .
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T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K I N G
Edward de Bono
A ltho u gh p o p u larly k n o wn fo r hi s i nven ti o n o f the term lateral thi n k i n g, n o w i n the
Oxfo rd Di c ti o n ary , E d w ard d e B o n o ' s mo s t i n teres ti n g i d ea i s that w ri tten u p i n his
1967 bo o k T he Mec han i s m o f Mi n d .
De B o n o fo llo w s on fro m MIT Pro fes s o r No rbert W i en er' s i d ea that the brai n mu s t
be an in fo rmati o n - p ro c ess in g mac hi ne an d the w ay i t " min d s" s ho u ld be cap able o f
bei n g exp res s ed i n in fo rmati o n al ter ms .
Cognetics
Co gn i ti v e c y bern eti c s - c o gn eti cs - is abo u t the p rac ti c al ap p li c ati o n o f c ybern eti c s
i n c o gni ti v e sc i enc e w hi c h i s the s ci en c e o f i n fo rmati o n p ro c es si n g, i n animals an d
mac hi n es .
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T he v ery exi s ten c e o f the Ga llu p Po l l has c han ged fo rev er the fu tu re o f t h e hu man
rac e. T h e Ga llu p Po l l mak es i t i n c rea s i n gly d i ffi c u lt fo r i n d i vi d u als to c lai m " I- am-
ri ght" , to c lai m they alo n e "k n o w what' s bes t" fo r the p u bli c n o w that ac c u rate
s c i en ti fi c meas u remen t o f the p u bli c /c u s to mer v i ew p o in t i s p o s si ble.
E xamp le:
Th e f i rs t a nd o nly re p re se nt a t ive s u rve y o f Ba g hda d re s i de nt s ' vi e ws
a bo u t t he wa r, o cc u p a ti o n, a nd t he i r fu t u re . In p o s si bly the mo s t c hallen gi n g
p ro j ec t in Gallu p ' s hi s to ry , 1,178 p eo p le i n Iraq' s c ap i tal w ere in terv i ew ed i n A u gu s t
2 0 0 3 w i th res earc hers c o nd u c tin g hou r- lo n g, i n - p ers on in terv i ew s on all man n er o f
to p i c s cu rren tly affec ti n g B a ghd ad i s . The vo i c es o f B a g hda d's ci t i ze ns ha ve no t
be e n he a rd - - u nt i l no w. Gallu p ' s mi s s i on i s to rep o rt the o p i n i o ns o f B aghd ad ' s
c i ti zen s to d ay - - an d to mo rro w . T h e 2 0 0 3 Gallu p Po ll o f B ag hd ad w i ll p ro v i d e
ben c hmark fi n di n gs that en able lead ers to gau ge ho w d ip lo mati c p o li c i es an d
c u ltu ral i n flu en c es are affec ti n g B ag h d ad i s ' vi ew s .
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Teaching Thinking
A les s er k n o wn si d e o f Dr Gallu p w as hi s in teres t i n hu mans an d the fac tors w hi c h
i n flu en c e thei r o p i ni o ns , atti tu d es , thi n k in g an d as pi rati o n s . H e to ld me " teac hi n g
p eo p le to thi n k fo r thems elv es w as th e mo s t i mp o rtan t thi n g i n the w o rld t o d o ."
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Opposite Direction
Su p p o s e y o u ' re lo o k i n g no rth. On c e y o u bec o me aw are o f the fac t , o n c e y o u n o ti c e
i t, then y o u c an d eli berately c ho o s e to lo o k s o u th. Lo o k i n g i n the o pp o s i te d i rec ti o n
i s o n e p lac e to n o ti c e thi n gs . T ry lo o k i n g i n d i rec ti o ns that y o u ar e n o t y e t lo o k i n g
i n . W here are y o u lo o k i n g n o w ? W here c o u ld y o u be lo o k i n g n ow ?
Mistakes
Mi s tak es are a u s efu l thi n g to n o ti ce. Mi s tak e- p ho bi ac s are s o afrai d o f mi s tak es
that they c an ' t bea r to n o ti c e them. T hey c an ' t s ee that a mi s tak e i s an o pp o rtu n i ty
to mak e an app ro p ri ate ad j u s tment. T hey c an ' t c op e wi th mi s tak es . Mi s tak e-
p ho bi ac s are alw ay s " ri ght" .
"Nothing is more dangerous than the certainty that one is right." writes Franois Jacob, winner of the
Nobel Prize for Medicine, "Nothing is potentially so destructive as the obsession with a truth one
considers absolute. All crimes in history have been the result of fanaticism of one type or another. All
massacres have been carried out in the name of virtue, of true religion, of legitimate nationalism, of
proper policy, of right ideology: in short, in the name of the fight against somebody else's truth."
~ The Logic of Life, Penguin 1989.
Future Consequences
F u tu re c o n s equ en c es c an be the mo s t d i ffi c u lt thi n gs to n o ti c e es pec i ally i n
ad v an c e, w hi c h i s o n e o f the b es t ti mes to n o ti c e them . T hi s i s a bi t o f a p arad o x.
H o w c an w e n o ti c e a c o n s eq u en c e that has n o t y et hap p en ed ? H o w c an w e n o ti c e the
fu tu re?
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W e hav e alread y d es tro y ed three- qu arte rs o f A u s trali a' s tro p i c al rai n fo res ts an d
abo u t tw o - thi rd s o f the res t o f o u r f o res ts . W e hav e mad e a ho le i n o u r p ro tec ti v e
o zo n e lay er al read y the s i ze o f Mo u n t E v eres t.
Input
Y o u hav e tw o ears an d o n e mou th so u s e them in that p ro p o rti o n - s o the s ay i n g
go es . A n d y es , ears are c ertai n ly go o d fo r i n pu t, fo r n o ti c in g. E y es co me i n hand y .
T he to n gu e an d the n o s e w o rk w ell togethe r. A n d , an ass o rtmen t o f fi n gers an d to es
p lay thei r p art . W e d o hav e aro u n d fi v e i n p u t s en s es , w e are to ld , an d the s e are a ll
u s efu l fo r n o ti c in g. Ou r exp eri en c e, pattern s bu i lt u p ov er the y ears , c an help u s to
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Habits of Noticing
W e c an u s e rep eti ti o n to d ev elo p s p ec i al habi ts o f n o ti c i n g. In a ro o m, a c arp en ter
hab i tu ally n o ti c es w o o d en thi n gs an d ho w p o o rly they are mad e. A bu s i n es s man
n o ti c es bu s in es s o pp o rtu n i ti es i n a si tu ati o n . A law y er n o tic es lo o p ho les , a s o ld i er
n o ti c es ... w hat d o es a s o ld i er n o ti c e?
Distractions
So meti mes w e d o n ' t n o ti c e thi n gs bec au s e w e bec o me d i s trac ted . M agi c i an s u s e thi s
p ri n c ip le s o y ou w o n ' t n o ti c e ho w they d o thei r magi c tri c k . B u t s o meti mes w e
bec o me d i s trac ted fo r o the r re as o n s .
T en w ay s y ou c an d eal w i th d is trac ti o n s :
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3. Ign o re t he d i s trac ti o n
4. Co n c en trate o n emp tyi n g y o u r min d , ei ther w i th a bro o m o r remo v i n g
the d i s trac ti o n w i th a v ac u u m c lean er.
5. Say NO to the d i s trac ti o n .
6. Say Y E S to the d i s trac ti o n an d let i t bec o me the n ew fo c u s o f y o u r
atten ti o n .
7. Vi s u ali s e y o u r min d lik e a blac k bo ard w here the d i s trac ti o n is
c halk ed . No w , w i p e i t c lean .
8. Imagi n e c o llec ti n g u p an y d i s trac ti o n s i n y ou r han d , c ru mp le th em
an d then thro w them aw ay .
9. Imagi n e to s s i n g the di s trac ti o n i n to a fas t- flo w i n g s tream an d let
them b e c ar ri ed o ff.
10. If n ec es s ary , y o u c an try s ev eral c o mbi n ati o ns o f thes e s u gges ti o n s .
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What is thinking?
T hi s qu es ti on c o u ld k eep a ro o m fu ll o f p hi lo s o p hers hap p y fo r a hu n d red y ears . B u t
i n the Sc ho o l o f T hi nk i n g w e are no t c o n c ern ed w i th thin k in g as c on temp lati o n ,
p hi lo s o p hi c al d is c us s i on o r ac ad emi c d es c ri p ti on , w e are c o n c ern ed wi th thi n k i n g
as an op erati n g s k i ll - the k in d o f thin k i n g that gets thi n gs d o n e. T he d efin i ti o n w e
u s e i s: T hi n ki n g i s the s ki ll o f u s i n g in telli gen c e to ge t thi n gs d o n e.
Thinking vs Doing?
T o man y p eo p le T H INK ING i s the o p p o s i te o f DOI NG. T hey s et t hes e tw o ac ti v i ti es
u p as mu tu ally exc lu si v e o pp o si tes in thei r mi n d . Wi th p rac ti c e, ho w ev er, y o u c an
d ev elo p y o u r abi li ty to u s e thi n ki n g as a s k i ll, j u s t li k e y o u c an d ev elo p c o o k i n g,
go lf, l ead ers hi p , p ai n ti n g, ac ti n g o r ai k i d o . A ll hu man sk i lls c an be learn ed o r
d ev elo p ed .
Pau l Mac Cre ad y , i n v en to r o f the Go ssamer A lbatro s s an d the father o f man - p o w ered
fli ght o n c e w ro te to me f ro m Cali fo rn i a:
" W hen fi rs t w atc hi n g a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g c las s i n ac ti on , I w as am azed that
s o methi n g s o s i mp le and s o mu c h fun c o u ld be s o qu ic k and effec ti v e in d ev elo p i n g
a p ers o n 's " thin k in g mu sc le" . W e all, as i n d i vi d u als an d as c aretak e rs o f o u r
p rec i o u s earth, n eed thes e thi n k i n g sk i lls " .
Dr Mac C read y ' s metap ho r o f thi n k ing as a ' mu s c le' i s a go o d o n e. It' s better th an
the o ld - fas hi o n ed id ea o f thi n ki n g as a ' gi ft' . If thi n k i n g i s o n ly a gi ft, th ere' s n o t
mu c h y o u c an d o ab o u t i t. B u t, i f i t' s mo re li k e a mu s c le then there' s a lo t y o u c an
d o to d ev elo p y o u r thi n k in g p o w er.
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Thought-Based Action:THINK-START-DO.
T ho u ght- bas ed ac ti o n i s the ki n d o f ac ti o n that' s bas ed o n thi n ki n g. F o r examp le,
y o u are read i n g a magazi n e an d y o u read abo u t a s to ry s et i n the Greek i s lan d o f
Patmo s . Y o u s tar t to thi n k ab o u t the Greek i s lan d s an d d ec id e y o u w an t to ac tu ally
go ther e.
B u t the thi n k i n g s ales p ers o n mi ght say to hers elf s o methi n g li k e thi s " W hen ev er a
c u s to mer w alk s i n to a s to re an d I as k i f I c an help them I n o ti c e that u s u al ly d ri v es
them bac k o u t o f the s to r e. May be I c an thi n k o f s o me o ther thi n g I c o u l d d o that
w o u ld n o t hav e that eff ec t. W hat c o u ld I d o i n s tead ? " A c ti on - bas ed thou ght: DO-
NOT ICE - T H INK .
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Sc i en c e ac kn o w led ges E i ns tei n 's tho u ght exp e ri men ts as amo n g the gre ates t
tri u mp hs ev er p ro d u c ed by a hu man brai n . H i s thi nk in g feats mad e hi m famo u s , n o t
j u s t in the sc i en ti fi c c o mmu n i ty , but amo n gs t the p u bli c at large. H e, i n effec t,
bec ame s c i enc e' s fi rs t s up ers tar! U n ti l he d i ed in 1955 he w as alw ay s at the c en tre
o f mu c h p u bli c i ty an d pu bli c in teres t.
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T hi s has alw ay s led to extrav agan t, d es tru c ti v e c las hes thro u gho u t hi s to ry an d i s
ho p eles s ly i n ad equ ate fo r d es i gn i n g a s afe fu tu re i n a rap i d ly c han gi n g w o rld . In
thi s trai n i n g y o u c an go bey o n d y ou r exi s ti n g lo gi c s o ftw are w i th n ew s o ftw are
c alled c o gn eti c s .
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Thinking is Movement
T here i s n o " ri ght" w ay to thi n k . T he k ey to thi n ki n g is mo v emen t. Mo v emen t
thro u gh the c o gn o s , mo v emen t th ro u gh thi n k - s p ac e, mo v emen t thro u gh the
i d eo s p here, mo v emen t thro u gh the u n i v ers e o f p o s s i ble tho u ghts .
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Thought Experiment:
A T ho u ght E xp eri men t i s an exp erimen t y o u c arry o u t i n y ou r brai n , u s i n g o n ly
thi n k i n g - y o u r i magi n ati o n . F o r exa mp le, y o u c o u ld i magi n e w hat w o u ld hap p en i f
c i garettes w ere s qu are an d n o t ro u n d . Y o u thin k i t thro u gh an d i magi n e the
c o n s equ en c es and p o ss i b i li ti es an d outc o mes .
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brai n s .
Beyond Logic
50 0 y ears ago Co lu mb u s s et s ai l. T he T alav e ra Co mmi s s i o n rep o rted to Qu een
Is abella o n Co lu mb u s ' i d ea - to reac h J ap an in the E as t by s ai li n g W es t an d to
d i s c ov er o ther lan d s en ro u te - that the ad v en tu re w as " u nc ertai n an d i mpo s s i ble to
an y ed u c ated p ers on ."
T hey to ld the qu een that the p ro p o s ed v o y age w o u ld tak e three y ears . E v en i f the
s hi p s c o u ld retu rn , w hi c h w as hi ghly u n li k ely , the c o mmis s i on rep o rted i t w o u ld be
a w as ted exp ed i ti o n , " fo r Go d w o u ld s u rely n o t hav e allo w ed an y un in habi ted lan d
o f real v alu e to b e c o n c ealed f ro m H i s p eo p le fo r s o man y c en tu ri es ."
Unique rightness
B as ed s o lely o n thei r ac c u mu lated exp eri en c e, the exp er ts p o i n ted o u t that the
A d mi ral' s mis si o n w as hard ly a lo gi c al o n e bec aus e hi s mathemati c s w ere w ro n g. So
i f hi s mathemati c s w ere w ro n g th eref o re Co lu mbu s w as w ro n g. T hey w er e c o n v i nc ed
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So meti mes exp erts u s e thei r exp e ri en c e n o t to exp lo re the fu tu re, bu t merely to
p ro tec t the p as t. Man y an exp er t arri v es at a s i tu ati o n an d fo rms a n i n s tan t
j u d gemen t. T hi s i s bas ed on hi s un i qu e bac k gro u n d , hi s p ers o n al exp ec tati o n s , hi s
v alu es , hi s mo o d , hi s agen d a an d o ther fac to rs .
It s eems that the mo re exp ert thi n k ers are, the bett er they are abl e to d efen d thei r
p o i n t- o f-v i ew s o they get trap p ed i n i t by thei r o wn exp erti s e. T hey c an no t es c ap e
thei r CVS , thei r Cu rren t Vi ew o f the S i tu ati o n .
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J u s t thi nk abo u t that fo r ten s ec o n ds. See i f i t mak es an y s ens e to y o u and w hether
y o u c an emb rac e the law o r w heth er y o u c an' t. Say i t to y o u rs elf o u t lo u d an d s ee
ho w y o u reac t to i t:
t he C u r re nt Vi e w o f t he Si t u at i o n (C VS)
c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o
t he B et t e r Vi e w of t he Si t u a ti o n (B VS)
T o s i mp li fy this y o u s i mp ly s ay :
C VS c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o B VS
C VS ≠ B VS
Antidote to PTV
T hi s un i v ers al law o f thi n k in g - C VS ≠ B VS - i s a s tro n g an ti d o te to PT V an d I w i ll
s ho w y o u ho w to exp lo i t i t an d p u t i t to u s e i n the n ex t c hap ter . A s I c o n ti n u e to
d es i gn w ays to n eu trali s e PT V I p r efe r to u s e the to o ls o f s c i en c e.
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Belief Systems
A ltho u gh mo s t o f the w o rld ' s to tal p o p u lati o n o f 5 bi lli o n o r s o d o n o t su p p o rt a
reli gi o n o f an y k i n d , i t w as rec en tly es ti mated by a reli gi o u s lead e r th a t a l ar ge
mi n o ri ty o f aro u n d 3 0 % s ti ll hop e to get v alu e an d c o mfo rt o u t o f reli gi o u s beli efs
o f o n e k i n d o r an o ther.
Mo s t o f thes e be li ev ers w er e bo r n i n to maj o r w o rld reli gi o n s li k e J u d ai s m,
Chri s ti an i ty , Is lam, H i n d u i s m o r B ud d hi s m w hic h are s p li t i n to tho u s an d s o f s u b-
gro u p s w i th a ran ge o f v a ri ati o n s i n thei r beli efs an d c u s to ms .
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T hes e b eli ef s y s tems req u i re b eli ev ers to tak e a l eap o f fai th an d to b eli ev e i n thi n gs
that w e may n o t b e ab le to tes t o r m eas u re. T hes e re li gi o u s beli efs fal l o u ts i d e the
s c i en ti fi c metho d . T hi s d o es n ' t n ec ess ari ly mean thei r c lai ms ar e n o t t ru e o r d i d n ' t
hap p en , i t s i mp ly means that the bal a n c e o f ev i d en c e is s o s li m that w e hav e n o w ay
o f k n o w i n g w hether they a re tru e an d s o , i f w e ac c ep t them , w e d o s o by tak i n g a
leap o f fai th .
Man y p eo p le, ho w ev er, are qu i te able to tak e s u c h a leap o f fai th. Man y o thers may
hav e had a s et o f b eli efs c u ltu rally p ro grammed i n to thei r brai n w hen they w ere
v ery s mall c hi ld ren .
Laws of Moses
So meti mes , fro m a v ery ea rly age , o u r brai n s bec o me in fec ted by cu ltu ral memes
( s to ri es that rep li c ate b ec au s e the y are go o d at getti n g p as s ed o n fro m o n e
gen erati o n to the n ext) an d v ery o ften w e n ev er, ev er really qu es ti o n thes e s to ri es . I
hav e w ri tten mo re abo u t memes i n T he X 10 Me m e p le x: Mu lti p ly Y o u r B us i ne s s B y
T e n!
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en ab les u s to d i fferen ti ate the f als e m emes fro m the tru e r memes .
In fac t, i f o n e c ar es to thi n k abo u t i t, the re a re man y p o s s i ble exp lan ati o n s that
c o u ld exp lai n the Mo s es meme. So me are:
Your Beliefs
If y o u w i s h, y o u c an exp lo re s o me o f y o u r o w n beli efs , w hether abo u t y o u r reli gi o n ,
y o u r j o b an d c areer o r y o u r fu tu re . T e n T hi n gs T hat I B eli ev e ( B u t Can n o t Pro v e)
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1. A bo u t my reli gi o n , I beli ev e . ..
2. A bo u t my reli gi o n , I beli ev e . ..
3. A bo u t my reli gi o n , I beli ev e . ..
4. A bo u t my j o b , I beli ev e .. .
5. A bo u t my j o b , I beli ev e .. .
6. A bo u t my j o b , I beli ev e .. .
7. A bo u t my fu tu re, I be li ev e .. .
8. A bo u t my fu tu re, I be li ev e .. .
9. A bo u t my fu tu re, I be li ev e .. .
10. A bo u t my beli efs , I beli ev e . ..
Thought Experiment
T ry to c o n d u c t a tho u ght exp eri men t. In y o u r men tal labo rato ry t ry to u s e y o u r
thi n k i n g s ki ll to gen er ate an alte rn at i v e exp lan ati o n to Mo s es ' s to ry , i n ad d i ti on to
the o n es gi v en abo v e. Si n c e i t i s o n ly an exp eri men t y o u c an be as c reati v e as y o u
are c ap able o f b ei n g.
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A n altern ati v e exp lan ati o n to Mo s es ' ' 10 c o mman d men ts ' s to ry :
T he s to ry w as w ri tten 10 0 y ears aft er a p ers o n n amed Mo s es w ho led
p eo p le w as ali v e. It w as w ri tt en w he n a n ew lead e r w as elec ted to l ead
the tri b e o f Is r ael . T hi s lead er m ad e u p law s bec au s e he w as hav i n g
tro u ble k eep i n g p eo p le i n li n e. T hes e law s w ere then tau ght as go s p el.
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Decimal Cognetics
In the las t c hap ter, w e' v e alread y s een that a CVS c an n ev er be equ al to a B VS. So ,
w hat exac tly i s a B VS?
BVS = CVS x 10
T he k ey to the p rac ti c al u s e o f thi s p o w erfu l p erc ep ti o n s w i tc h - CVST OBVS - i s the
d eli berate e ffo r t o n e mak es to try to n o ti c e the B VS that i s T E N T IME S be tter t han
the CVS .
T en ti mes better may be ten ti mes mo re, o r ten ti mes les s , o r ten u ni ts forw ard o r
ten u n i ts bac k . It' s the d eli b erate u s e o f ten p o w er as a p ro v o c ati o n to g et y o u to
es c ap e fro m y o u r CVS.
W i th p rac ti c e, the " ten ti mes " p art o f c o gn eti c s j u s t bec o mes eas i er an d eas i er. T hi s
i s w hat tenp o w er i s all ab o u t. Remember, math emati c ally , the re are a lw ay s mi lli o n s
o f p o s s i ble o p ti on s ( li terally ! ) bu t y o u mu s t d eli berately lo o k fo r them to s ee them.
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Exa m p le s :
If the CVS i s 1 gi ft , th e B VS mi ght be 10 gi fts .
If the CVS i s thi rs t, t he B VS mi ght b e 10 mo u thfu ls o f w ate r.
If the CVS i s o n e emai l, the B V S mi gh t be 10 emai ls .
If the CVS i s o n e s tep b ac k , the B VS c o u ld be ten s tep s fo rw ard .
If the CVS i s ten s tep s fo rw ard , th e B VS mi ght be 10 0 s tep s bac k .
If the CVS i s red , p erh ap s the B VS i s green .
If the CVS i s u p , then the B VS may be d o w n o r ev en mu c h fu rther u p .
If the CVS i s to tak e, the B VS may be to gi v e.
If the CVS i s d o i t later , the B VS may be d o i t n o w .
If the CVS i s 10 , the B VS c o u ld be 10 0 , o r 1.
If the CVS i s 10 0 , the B VS mi ght be 1 0 0 0 .
If the CVS i s 1, the B VS c o u ld be o n e t en th.
If the CVS i s w here y o u are n o w , the B VS i s tak e a qu an tu m leap .
Tenpower
T he habi tu al u s e o f t he n u mber 10 gi v es a v ery u s efu l meas u remen t an d a u s efu l
trac k i n g an d c o n tro lli n g d ev i c e fo r t h e thi n k er o r c lev er brai n u s er. In the u n li mi ted
u n i v ers e o f thi n ks p ac e p ow ers o f ten help s u s es c ap e fro m the g rav i ty o f o u r CVS
an d to mo v e o u t o f o rb i t an d exp lo re t he c o gn o s , lo o k i n g fo r a B VS.
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Tenpower
I w an t to d ev o te a s ep ara te les s o n to d i s c u ss i n g ten p o w er thereby gi v i n g i t the
i mp o rtan c e i t d es erv es .
T hat' s als o w hy y ou ' ll n o ti c e a great d eal o f rep eti ti o n i n this trai n i n g. It' s n o t
bec au s e I' v e fo rgo t ten that I' v e al rea d y d is c us s ed s o methin g w i th y o u . It' s to help
bu i ld p attern s in y o u r b rai n s o i t bec o mes eas i er fo r y o u to remember an d u s e the
s o ftw are. IN A PA T T E RNING SY ST E M, LIK E T H E H U MA N B RA IN SY ST EM, T H E RE
IS NO ST RON GE R MA GIC THAT CA N BE U SE D THAN T HE MA GIC OF
RE PE T IT ION .
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What is Tenpower?
T en p o w er i s the s ki ll o f u s in g the p ow ers o f ten . T en p o w er is a bo os ter mec han i s m
fo r y o u r b rai n s o ftw are . J u s t li k e e n zy mes that bo o s t u p c hemi c al rea c ti o n s o r
ro c k ets that bo o s t s p ac e s hu ttles , s o c an ten p o w er bo o s t y o u r brai n s o ftw are an d
grea tly emp o w er y o u r thi n k i n g s k i lls .
Put-on a Zero!
A zero may n o t s eem li k e mu c h. If y ou ad d i t o r s u btrac t i t fro m an o ther n u mber, i t
mak es n o d i fferen c e at all . A z ero b ar ely exi s ts .. . u n ti l .. . y o u p u t a zero o n the en d
o f an o ther n u mb er an d , mi rabi l e d i c tu , that n u mber i n c reas es ten fo ld !
T hat i s T enp o w er! E v en the E gy p ti ans had a sy mbo l fo r ten p o w er an d may be that' s
w hy the p y rami d s are s o b i g.
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Te n R e p e ti t i o ns
Rep eti ti o n i s s o methi n g y o u c an alw ay s d o . F o r examp le, he re a re 10 rep eti ti o n s …
1. Rep eti ti o n
2. Rep eti ti o n
3. Rep eti ti o n
4. Rep eti ti o n
5. Rep eti ti o n
6. Rep eti ti o n
7. Rep eti ti o n
8. Rep eti ti o n
9. Rep eti ti o n
10. Rep eti ti o n
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B VSs are ther e all t he ti me, y o u ' r e tri p p i n g o v er them all d ay lo n g, li teral ly
hu n d red s o f them, bu t y o u ' re n o t s e ei n g them. T he reas o n y o u ' re mi s s i ng them i s
o bv i o u s: It' s i mp o ss i b le to n o ti c e a B VS i f PT V i s ho ld i n g y o u r atte n ti o n o n
d efen d i n g y o u r CVS.
A tten ti o n i s the gatew ay to c o n sc i o us n es s . A tten ti o n i s the bu si n ess o f yo u r mi n d .
A tten ti o n i s the p rin c ip al s erv i c e p ro v i d ed by the man agemen t s ec ti o n o f yo u r brai n
w hi c h en ables y o u to fo c us i n and have a mi n d - - fo r y o u to thi n k abo u t things .
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Attention Disorders
In d i v i du als w ho hav e s u ffered brai n -d amage c an lo s e thei r abi li ty to c o n tro l thei r
atten ti o n . A tten ti o n d is o rd ers are man i fes ted in d i fferen t w ay s d ep end i ng o n the
n atu re o f the d amage . It c an tak e the fo rm o f an i n abi li ty to es c ap e fro m a
p arti c u lar fi xati o n an d s o they remai n s tuc k i n a v i ewp o in t regard le s s o f the
d eman d s o f thei r en v i ro n men t.
So meti mes , lo s s o f atten ti o n - co n tro l mean s c on s tan t and d ebi li tati n g d is trac ti o n .
T hi s is bec aus e a p ers o n s u fferi n g fro m an atten ti o n di s o rd er c ann ot p rev en t
atten ti o n fro m bei n g d i v erted by i rrel ev an t s ti mu li .
Switching TO
Sw i tc hes are u s efu l bec au s e they hav e at leas t tw o p o s i ti on s . T his means y o u c an
es c ap e fro m o n e an d mo v e TO the o th er. It o n ly requ i res i s a fli p o f the s w i tc h:
s w i tc h: HE A DS TO T A ILS.
s w i tc h: OF F TO ON.
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s w i tc h: CVS TO B VS.
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Better is Clever
Y o u c an u s e c o gn eti cs to get b et ter ( an d ' better' mean s mo re c l ev er) a t go lf, be tte r
at c o o k i n g, bette r at s tu d y i n g, bet ter a t li s ten i n g, bet ter at s o lv i n g bu s i n es s
p ro blems , b et ter at s elli n g, bett er at c rea ti n g o p p o rtu n i ti es , better at mak i n g
d ec i si o n s , better at han d li n g fami ly matters , bette r at d eali n g w i th p ers o n al
s i tu ati o ns , better at g etti n g b et ter , be tter a t an y thi n g!
Sa y i t no w t e n t im e s o u t lou d:
C VSTO B VS C VSTOB V S C VSTOB V S C VSTOB VS C VSTO B V S
C VSTO B VS C VSTOB V S C VSTOB V S C VSTOB VS C VSTO B V S
If y o u w ere to rep eat a hu n d red o f tho s e s w i tc hes eac h d ay ( that i s rep eat
CVST OB VS a hu n d red ti mes ) , y o u w o u ld be k eep i n g the s w i tc h i n y o u r s ho rt- term
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F o r examp le:
y o u mi ght be bo ri n g a c u s to mer – CV ST OB VS
To Look Is To See
If y o u d ec i d e to lo o k fo r a B VS, y o u w i ll s ee i t. Y es , y o u real ly w i ll s ee i t. W hat ti me
i s i t? ( Chec k y o u r w atc h an d rec o rd the ti me here .)
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QRH Styleware
What is Styleware?
Sty lew are i s n ew . It' s a s o ftw are p ac k age d ev o ted s p ec i fi c ally to hel p i n g the
brai n u s er c ho o s e a w o rld - c las s s ty le that i s c o mp ati ble w i th bein g a PT V- fre e
thi n k er. W hen i t c o mes to thi n k i n g an d behav i o u r, w h at c an be mo r e i mp o rtan t
than s ty le?
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A lo v i n g gen tle w o man w ho treats h ers elf an d o the rs w i th res p ec t i s u nli k ely to
begi n s u dd en ly an d i n exp li c ably behav i n g li k e a Salo me. A Sc ro o ge i s un li k ely to
s tart s u d d en ly p lay i n g b all w i th t he k i d s o r to j o i n B i g B ro thers - - bu t , ev en a
Sc ro o ge c an c han ge!
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F o r examp le, at d i ffe ren t ti mes o v er the y ears , s eats o n my Vi rtu al B o ard hav e been
held by Ci c ero , N as tas i a K i n sk i , J ean d e la Vale t, Maj o r T e rry H ay es D F C, J u li es
Caes ar, Sak i , A u d rey H ep bu rn , P ro fes s o r Geo r ge G allu p , W .C. F i e ld s , my fa ther, the
Pri n c e o f W ales , Ri c hard Daw k i ns , Dame E li zabeth Mu rd o c h, F ra M arti n Lu ther,
A n to ni o Carlo s J o b i m, my g ran d mo ther, Po p e J o hn Pau l I, B ri an F err y , A lber t
E i ns tei n , Os c ar W i ld e, G eo rg e Co s t an za, Pro fes s o r Ro ge r Sho rt F RS , Mu s as hi ,
Qu een Is ab ella an d man y o thers w ho s e n ames I n eed n ' t men ti o n .
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Q is for Quality
W hen i t c o mes to the su b j ec t o f s ty le, the c lev er brai n u s er i s o n e w ho alway s tri es
to p o s i ti v ely u p grad e a s i tu ati o n fro m i ts c u rren t s t ate to a bet ter s tate . In o the r
w o rd s , y o u are m ak i n g a d eli be rate effo rt to i mp ro v e the qu a li ty o f th e s i tu ati o n ,
the qu ali ty o f the w ay i n w hi c h the i n fo rmati o n i s arran ged .
Co n tras t thi s w i th the d u mb ' w hat ev er- I- c an - get- aw ay - w i th' atti tu d e. Qu ali ty i s a
matter o f c ho i c e, a matt er o f s ty le. On ly by u n d ers tan di n g the p ro c es s o f ad d i n g
v alu e w i ll w e b e ab le to u n d ers tan d the k ey to p ro d u c tiv i ty an d s o lv e w hat ap p ear to
be ' ec o n o mi c' p ro b lems .
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Self X10
Co n fu c i us had an i n s ati able thi rs t f o r k n o w led ge o f an ti qu i ty . In hi s s ay i n gs , he
rare ly u s ed n egati v e p ro hi b i ti o n s bu t p refer red to o ffer p o s i ti v e memes o n ho w to
fi n d a B VS i f y o u w i s h to b e hav e as a c hu n - tzu o r gen t leman . W h at mo v ed hi m w as
n o lu s t fo r p o w er b u t the w i ll to at tai n tru e mas tery . I f y o u s eek ' s elf x10 ' then
u n d ers tan d y o u r s tren gths an d d ev elo p them w i th p rac ti s e and mas tery . Bu t he w as
n o abs trac t p hi lo s o p her. H e s aw the need to be bo th a man o f thi n k in g an d a man o f
ac ti o n .
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132
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T he Mas ter' s i d eal w as the c hu n - tzu o r w hat W es tern e rs w o u ld c all ' the ge n tleman ' .
T he c hu n - tzu p rac ti s ed d ai ly to attai n exc ellen c e i n the fo llo w i n g n o ble me mes :
c hi h o r i n tegri ty
i o r fai rn es s
c hu ng o r lo y alty
s hu o r c o - o p erati o n
re n o r c o mp as s i o n .
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A s w e hav e exp lo red in p rev i o us thi n k in g les s o ns , W es tern tho u ght has been
d o mi n ated by the Pla to n i c ethi c : the i mp o rtan c e o f T he T ru th . E as te rn tho u ght has
been d o mi n ated by the Co n fu ci an ethic : the i mp o rtan c e o f T he Relati o n s hi p.
It i s i n teres ti n g to u n d ers tan d an d a p p rec i ate the d i ffe ren t thi n k i n g s trat egi es that
hav e ev o lv ed o u t o f the Pla to T ru th V i ru s an d the Relati o n s hip Meme o f Co n fu c i us .
In my exp eri en c e wi th teac hi n g thi n k i n g ac ro ss c u ltu res , w hen on e better
u n d ers tan d s the thi nk i n g s ty le o f a d ifferen t c u ltu re i t mak es i t easi er to ap p rec i ate
the u n i qu e elemen ts o f o n e' s o w n .
RMC p lac es the emp has i s o n the i n terac ti o n , the i n terc han ge, the c o n n ec ti o n . T hi s
fi ts i n w i th c o n temp o rary med i a- d ri v en tren d s i n p sy c ho lo gy , s o c i olo gy an d
p hi lo s o p hy w here the ac c en t i s o n u nd ers tan d i n g the relati o n s hi p s an d d efi n in g the
ro les . B ehav i o u r i s go v ern ed les s f r o m exte rn al l aw s an d mo re f ro m i n t ern ali s ed
c o n c ep ts o f " the gen tleman , the y u p p i e, the gen X er, Mars /Ven u s , n eti qu ette,
green i es " an d i d en ti fi c ati o n wi th bran d s and li fes ty les .
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In s u mmary , the mai n d i fferen c e betw een the Co n fu c i an ethi c an d the Pla to n i c on e
i s thi s :
the Plato n i c ethi c i s c o nc ern ed wi th ' tru th' an d w hether y o u are i n the
' ri ght' o r n o t. If y o u a re ' ri gh t' the n that c an exc u s e y o u r behav i o u r
bec au s e ' tru th' i s o n y ou r s i d e.
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No man i s an i s land !
Y o u ' re n o t Ro bi n s on Cru s o e!
J o i n the c lu b!
W hat go es aro u n d c o mes aro u n d !
Li v e an d let li v e!
A ll fo r o n e an d o n e fo r all!
T i t fo r tat .
E Plu ri bu s U n u m etc etc .
W hat d o es i t all mean ? I t mean s I' ll ac k n o w led ge y o u r exi s ten c e an d the matc hi n g
v ali d c lai ms that ari s e fro m y o u r exi s ten c e an d , i n retu rn , y o u ' ll d o the s ame fo r
me.
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Mutual recognition
Man y p eo p le hav e talk ed ab o u t the v alu e o f rec o gn i ti o n . It' s n o thi n g n ew . H ere a re
s o me o f them:
Se ne c a
H e that d o es go o d to an o ther d o es go o d als o to hi ms elf.
C o nf u c i us
H e w ho w i s hed to s ec u re the go o d o f o thers , has a lread y s ec u red hi s o w n .
H i ndu Pro ve r b
H elp y o u r bro ther' s bo at ac ro s s , an d l o ! y o u r o w n has reac hed the s ho re.
R i c ha r d D a wk i ns
Ni c e gu y s fi n is h fi rs t.
We s t e rn Pro ve r b
Y o u s c ratc h my b ac k an d I' ll s c ratc h yo u rs .
Zi g Zi g la r
I beli ev e y o u c an get ev ery thi n g y o u w an t i n li fe i f y o u j u s t help en o u gh o the r
p eo p le get w hat t hey w an t.
Ma rc u s Au re li us
Men exi s t fo r the s ak e o f o n e an o ther.
H e nry F o r d
Co mi n g to gether i s a begi n ni n g; K eepi n g to gether i s a p ro gres s ; W o rki n g togethe r i s
s u c c ess .
A lbe rt Ei ns t e i n
W i tho u t d eep reflec ti o n , o n e k n o w s fro m d ai ly li fe that o n e exi s ts fo r o the r p eo p le.
J e s us
T here w as a man go i n g fro m J eru s ale m d o w n to J eri c ho w hen he fell i n to the han d s
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R1 - Self Recognition
Rec o gn i ti o n o f o n e' s s elf i s a le gi ti mate rec o gn i ti o n o f the fac t o f o n e' s e xi s ten c e,
an d a c reati v e i n teres t i n the qu ali ty o f o n e's exi s ten c e an d the p res erv ati o n o f
o n e' s exi s tenc e.
R2 - Other Recognition
Valu i n g rec o gn i ti o n o f o n e' s s elf au to mati c ally c arri es w i th i t a v alu e fo r the
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R3 - System Recognition
Rec o gn i ti o n o f the s y s tem mean s reali s i n g that, o n balan c e, i f w e are all to en j o y
the maxi mu m rec o gn i ti o n as i n di v i duals , gi v e go es a lo n g w i th tak e.
E xamp le:
Imagi n e the re a re ten p eo p le i n a s p ac es hi p hu rtli n g thro u gh s p ac e:
R 1 - F i rs t, i f ev ery i n d i v i d u al p ass enger d ec i d es to rec o gn i ti o n hi ms elf o r hers elf ,
then eac h c an en j o y the rec o gn i ti o n of o n e p ers o n hi s o r her o w n s elf;
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So meti mes o u r lead ers are i n s pi ri n g examp les o f the 3 Rs and o ften they are n o t.
Sti ll, i t' s i n all o u r i n teres ts to en c o u r age c o o p erati o n w herev e r w e c an fi n d i t.
Papal Recognition
Perhap s the mo s t w i d ely res p ec ted p o p e o f mo d ern ti mes w as J o hn XXII. In hi s
mo s t famo u s En cy c li c al, Pac em i n Terri s , he c o n s id ered the ri ghts an d d u ti es o f
mu tu al rec o gn i ti o n to b e s o i mp o rtan t that he w ro te a le tter ' to the C lergy an d
F ai thfu l o f the en ti re Catho li c W o rld , an d to all Men o f Go o d W i ll ' s ay i n g:
" T he n atu ral ri ghts o f w hi c h W e hav e s o far b een s p eak i n g are i n extri c ab ly bo u n d
u p w i th as man y d u ti es , all ap p ly i n g to o n e an d the s ame p ers o n . T hes e ri ghts an d
d u ti es d eri v e thei r o ri gi n , thei r s u s ten an c e, an d thei r i n d es tru c ti bi li ty fro m the
n atu ral law , w hi c h i n c o n ferri n g the o n e i mp o s es the o ther.
" T hu s , fo r examp le, the ri g ht to li v e i n v o lv es the d u ty to p res erv e o n e's li fe; the
ri ght to a d ec en t s tan d ard o f li v i n g, t he d u ty to li v e i n a bec o mi n g f as hi o n ; the ri ght
to be free to s eek o u t the tru th , the d u ty to d ev o te o n es elf to an ev er d eep er an d
w i d er s earc h fo r i t.
Princely Recognition
W hen it c o mes to the u n d ers tan d in g the c o n c ep t of rec o gn i ti o n an o ther
c o n tro v ers i al examp le i s the P ri n c e o f W ales . T he Pri n c e, w i th a tho u s an d y ears o f
trad i ti o n b ehi n d hi m, has emerged as o n e o f the au then ti c lead ers o f the New
Mi llen n i u m.
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Si r Lau ren s has a d eep res p ec t fo r the bu s hmen o f So u thern A fri c a w ho li ve i n to tal
harmo n y w i th the K alaha ri D es ert . T he bu s hman ' s s p i ri tu al beli efs are ba s ed o n a
balan c e o f the i n d i v id u al w i th n atu re, w i th the v i llage an d the t ri be - a b alan c e o f
w ho len es s an d in terd ep en d enc e.
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A gai n s t the p o llu ti o n o f the o c ean s ystems an d the d es erti fi c ati o n o f the rai n fo res ts
an d thei r s p ec i es , the Pri n c e s p o k e s tro n gly , " i f w e c an s to p the s k y tu rn i n g i n to a
mi c ro w av e o v en w e w i ll s ti ll fac e the p ro s p ec t o f li v i n g in a garbag e d u mp ' .
On Balance
Co mmen ti n g o n the p ers o n al c hall en ge o f hi s o w n u n i qu e p os i ti on o f gre at w eal th
an d ti tle he has s ai d " I may hav e every thi n g I n eed materi al ly bu t there are o the r
d i ffi c u lti es . On e w o rri es a grea t d ea l abo u t o n e' s res p o n si bi li ti es an d every thi n g
els e, t ry i n g to d o the ri ght thi n g, to h av e as balan c ed an ap p ro ac h as p o ss ible" .
Secret Revolution
F ran c i s K in s man , c o mmen ti n g i n Mi llen n i u m o n the Pri n c e' s ro le as a w o r ld lead e r
o f the New A ge , w ri t es " H i s emp has is o n c lo s en ess to the e arth an d a c o mmu n i on
w i th the p lan t k i n gd o m has gi v en him a hard ro w to ho e w i th th e med i a - ' A lo o n
agai n ! ' s n eered o n e tablo i d head li n e.
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Humour is Clever
H u m o u r als o embrac es exp lo r ati o n an d exp eri men t an d the w i lli n gn es s to c reat e
" mi s tak es" an d to b e su rp ri s ed . It als o en c o mp as s es the abi li ty to enj o y on es elf, as
w ell as hu mi li ty . H u m o u r allo w s freed o m fro m a rro gan c e, s elf- ri gh te o u s n ess ,
hy p o c ri sy , an d fals e mo rali ty .
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Surprise is Human
H u mo u r i n v o lv es the ap p rec i ati o n o f s u rp ri s e. T hat' s w hy i t's s aid that Go d mu s tn ' t
hav e a s en s e o f hu mo u r. T he argu men t go es that i f w e d efi n e a Go d as omn i s ci en t
( k n o ws ev ery thi n g) then that Go d c an n o t be s u rp ri s ed . So , H e/She c an n o t hav e a
s en s e o f hu mo u r. W hether o r n o t thi s i s tru e, Go d k n o ws ! W hat i s tru e i s that w e' re
n o t go d s , w e' re n o t k n o w - i t- alls . W e are hu man s an d w e ar e mo s t hu man w hen w e
are s u rp ri s ed .
Humour is Serious
In 1918 , Geo rge Mered i th , li tera ry c ri ti c , w ro te i n A n Es sa y o n Co m ed y that the
" Co mi c Sp i ri t" i s li k e a s o c i al gu ard i an an gel to h elp u s w hen ev er men " w ax o u t o f
p ro p o rti o n , o v erblo w n , affec ted , p re ten ti o u s , bo mbas ti c al, hy p o c ri ti c al, p ed an ti c;
w hen ev er i t s ees them s elf- d ec ei v ed o r ho o d - w i nk ed , gi v en to ru n ri o t, p lan n in g
s ho rts i ghted ly , p lo tti n g d emen ted ly ."
F o r examp le:
H e w as an o ld li o n- k i ller. T he tro u b l e w as there w e re n o mo re o ld li o n s left to k i ll,
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o r,
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Productivity is Fun
B u t, ho w i s all thi s he lp fu l to y o u , as a c lev e r n ec k to p u s er, i n a p rac t i c al w ay ,
to d ay ?
148
Cognetics Style
H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the s ty le o f a c lev er brai n u s er? . .. QR H .
H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the en v i ro nmen t o f a c lev er fami ly ? .. . QR H .
H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the c u ltu re o f a c lev er c o mp an y ? ... QR H .
H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the p o li c i es o f a c lev er c o u n try ? . .. QR H .
QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH
QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH
QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH
QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH
QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH
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If the re rea lly i s a s ho rt- c u t. If there really i s a s ec ret p as s age. If there r eally i s a
gen u i n e ans w er to s u c h a q u es ti on , I thi n k i t is w hat I hav e c alled - PR R w hi c h
s tan d s fo r Pra c t ic e - Re p e ti t i o n- R ehe a rs a l.
Pra c t i ce - R ep e t it i o n- R e he a r s a l.
A p attern i s s o methi n g that i s rep eated mo re o ften than ran d o m c hanc e. T o d ev elo p
n ew p attern s o f thi n ki n g y ou r brai n n eed s r e pe t it io n to bu i ld the n ew p attern .
T hi s is s u c h an i mp o rtan t s trategy fo r y o u r p ers on al s uc c es s that w e w i ll d ev o te thi s
w ho le les s o n to i t.
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The Stirrup
It w as the i n v en ti on o f the s ti rru p in the n in th c en tu ry that led to the i d ea o f the
k n i ght. No w a ho rs eman w as mu c h s u rer i n the s ad d le and s o the c av alry c harge
agai n s t a w all o f i n fan try b ec ame p o s s i ble. T hi s red u c ed i n fan try to the ro le o f
s u pp o rt tro o p s an d atten ti o n b ec ame fo c u s ed o n the ho rs eman o r c av ali er o r k n i ght
( German ) an d hi s sp ec i al i nd i vi d u al trai n i n g an d p ers on al d ev elo p men t.
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Jungle Warfare
Du ri n g the Vi etn am er a, A u s trali a ' s J u n gle T rai n i n g Cen tre at Can u n gra i n
Qu een s lan d w as c on s id ered o n e o f the bes t i n the w o rld . In J u n gle W arfare, o n e o f
the thi n gs s o ld i ers mu s t learn i s w hat to d o i n the ev en t o f an ambu s h.
Imagi n e tha t y o u are go i n g alo n g a j u n gle p ath n early bac k at b as e c amp , ti red ,
c ertai n y o u are s afe. Su d d en ly y o u run in to an A MB U SH ! ! Sup p o s e the ambu s h is on
y o u r left . T hey ' re lu c k y ; they hav e th e elemen t o f s u rp ri s e. Y o u try n o t to get i n to
that k i n d o f s i tu ati o n , bu t w hat i f y o u d o ?
Opposite Way
W ell, fi rs t , w hat i s the n atu ral thi n g to d o ? Natu rally y o u w i ll ten d to ru n the
o p p o si te w ay , bu t a ll that d o es i s to k eep y o u c learly i n the li n e o f fi re . A c t u ally , th e
bes t thi n g to d o i s to tu rn left to f ac e them an d w alk s trai ght i n to t he ambu s h,
bec au s e o n the o ther s i d e o f the ambu s h, li es s afety ( an d y o u ev en get a chan c e to
hav e a go a t the o t her gu y s ) .
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T hat' s all y o u hav e to d o ! E v ery thi n g els e hap p ens au to mati c ally . W hat that d o es is
to d eto n ate a bo mb u n d er y o u r s eat w hi c h exp lo d es an d p u s hes y o u thro u gh the
c an o p y o f the p lan e. No t v ery p leas an t.
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So w a n a c t ... re a p a ha b i t;
So w a ha b i t ... re a p a c ha ra c te r;
So w a c ha ra c te r ... re a p a de s ti ny.
Results as Consequences
On e mean i n g o f ' res u lt' i s c o n s equ en c e o r o u tc o me o f s o met hi n g. T he r eas o n w e
thi n k an d then d o s o methi n g i s bec au s e o u r ac ti o n has c o n s equ enc es an d w e hav e
d ec i d ed w e w an t tho s e c on s eq u en c es .
Results as Scores
A n o ther mean i n g o f ' r es u lt' i s as a s c o re. It mi ght b e a qu an ti ty o r a fo rmu la
o btai n ed b y s o me c alc u lati o ns o r a meas u remen t. F o r examp le , w e re ad i n the
p ap er: " T he res u lt o f y es terd ay ' s T V t eletho n fo r A IDS res ea rc h w as $3 ,563 ,8 92 an d
s u rp as s ed las t y ear' s res u lt" .
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rep u tati o n that man y c u s to mers ac tu ally tre at s ales p eo p le w i th a c e rtai n amo u n t o f
s u s pi c io n ... c av eat emp to r!
Res u lts are w ha t y o u get w hen y o u d o c ertai n thi n gs .. . w i th s k i ll. W an ti n g res u lts i s
n o t en o u gh. E xp ec tin g res u lts do es n o t c on s ti tu te man agemen t o r lead ers hi p . A ll
the go al- s etti n g i n the w o rld i s mean i n gles s talk w i tho u t abi li ty an d s k ill. I f y o u
p rac ti c e the p ro c es s , there i s n o mystery to the fac t that y o u w i ll au to mati c ally get
res u lts .
T here i s n o mys tery that j u gglers c an j u ggle. A n y o n e c an learn to j u ggle th ree balls
w i th abo u t tw o ho u rs o f p rac ti s i n g - p rac ti s i n g the p ro c es s o f j u ggli ng. M ere ly
w an ti n g to j u ggle i s n o t en o u gh. E xh o rtati o n i s a w as te o f ti me . Say i n g to s o meo n e,
“ Y o u ' v e go t to j u ggle! ” ; is ti res o me an d n ev er w o rk s . B u t, p rac ti s in g the p ro c es s o f
j u ggli n g alw ay s lead s to res u lts , ev e ry ti me, w i tho u t fai l .
In thi s trai n i n g y o u ' v e s een that c o g n eti c s i s the s k i ll o f c han gi n g CVSs i n to B VSs ,
the s k i ll o f i mp ro v in g s i tu ati on s , and the s k i ll o f getti n g res u lts . It i s als o a s hi ft i n
atten ti o n fro m res u lts to the p ro c es s o f ge tti n g r es u lts , w i th the ad d i ti o n o f tr ai n i n g
( PRR - p rac ti c e, rep eti ti o n , reh ears al ) .
The Secret
A n d n o w w e c o me to the s p eci al s ec ret o f ho w to get res u lts . T hi s i s the mo s t c lev er
tri c k y o u c an learn fro m thi s trai n i n g. A re y o u read y ?
157
The Secret
A n d , as w e' v e alread y d i s c u s s ed , the s ec ret to g etti n g res u lts i s to n o t o n ly s et
res u lts go a ls bu t to als o s et p ro c es s g o als , th at i s , T RA I NI NG GOA LS. Do n ' t j u s t s et
a res u lt go a l li k e: I w an t to be able to j u ggle . Y o u als o n eed to s et a t rai n i n g go al
li k e: I w an t to p rac ti s e j u ggli n g fo r 10 ho u rs . H o w d o y o u j u ggle? PRR x 10 ho u rs .
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W e than k the J u i llard Sc ho o l in New Y o rk an d o ther exp erts w ho gav e the fo llo w i n g
es ti mates :
Sk i ll H o u r s :
Pi an o 450
Si n gi n g 90 0
A lto s ax 60 0
Cello 90 0
F lu te 12 0 0
Vi o li n 190 0
T ru mp et 300
T ro mbo n e 60 0
Gu i tar 150
H armo n i c a 50
Read i n g mu s i c 150
Kung Fu 60 0
J u ggli n g 2
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The Rehearsal
Oc to b er 1 9, 198 6 . D ri v i n g fro m Man h attan to u p s tate New Y o rk o n th at la t e- au tu mn
Su n d ay , I rem ember thi n k i n g, " W ell, thi s may be my l as t d ay a li v e bu t i t c ertai n ly i s
a go r geo u s o n e! " I w as head ed fo r New Palt z, o rc ha rd c o u n try , an d w her ev er y o u
lo o k ed ther e w e re t rees a ll ablaz e i n the fal l c o lo u rs o f red s , o c hres , bro w n s ,
c i tru s es an d the blu es t s k y I c o u ld ev er rec all s eei n g. Or p e rhap s i t w as s i mp ly fear
that had hei gh ten ed my s en s es .
The AFF
On arri v i n g at the fa rm, my f ri en d an d ho s t Carl Zatz , met me w i th a hearty
w elc o me telli n g me ho w p leas ed he w as that I ac tu al ly s ho w ed u p . " Sinc e y o u ' re
here, y o u s ho u ld d o an A F F !" s ays Carl an d befo re I c o u ld as k w hat an A FF w as he
lau n c hed i n to the i n tro d u c ti o ns o f th e gro u p o f abo u t ten " fi rs t- ti mers " w ai ti n g fo r
the c o mmen c emen t o f the mo rn i n g' s i n s tru c ti on . B y lu n c hti me w e had c o v ered
ev ery thi n g an d the i ns tru c to r s ai d "OK . Y o u c an all break fo r lu n c h n o w an d w ait
fo r y o u r tu rn . O h . .. n o t y o u Mi c hael, y o u ' re go i n g to d o an A F F !"
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The Dilemma
It' s d i ffi c u lt to ad eq u ately d es c ri be t he lac k o f en thu s i as m that I w as n o w feeli n g
fo r the w ho le i d ea o f j u mp i n g bu t s i nc e I fe lt I had c o mmi tted my s elf to t he A F F , I
w as ev en les s en thus i as tic abo u t can c elli n g o u t. T here w er e s o me bac k gro u n d
reas o n s as to w hy I felt thi s w ay bu t i t' s en o u gh to s ay that I fo u n d my s elf d eep i n a
d i lemma. A n d I mad e the d ec i s i o n that the o n ly w ay to go w as . .. u p .
The Decision
T hi s i s exac tly ho w I tho u ght th ro u gh the d ec i s i o n .
F i rs t, I' ll c o mp lete the trai n i n g they p lan to gi v e me. T hat may mak e me feel bette r
as I' ll u n d ers tan d w hat' s i n v o lv ed . Sec o n d , I p res u me thes e gu y s ( bo th qu ali fi ed U S
Parac hu te A s s o c i ati on J u mp mas ters ) k n o w thei r j o b an d i f I fo llo w met i c u lo u s ly
ev ery thi n g they tell me, then I s ho u ld be OK . T hi rd , i n ad d i ti o n to the t rai n i n g they
gi v e me, I w i l l d o ten mo re rehea rs als o f my o w n , befo re I go u p .
The Rehearsals
T he d ri ll w as c alled a Ci rc le o f A tten ti o n . It i n v o lv ed fo cu s in g o n e's atten ti o n
aro u n d a c i rc le w hi c h i n c lu d ed the ho ri zo n , fo c u s ed ey e c o n tac t w i th the
j u mp mas ters o n ei ther s i d e o f me, the alti mete r fo r hei gh t, an d the d ri ll fo r p o p p in g
the c hu te. Du ri n g th e 50 s ec o n d s o f my free fal l I w as mean t to d o t he s equ en c e
tw i c e as a p rac ti s e, an d o n the thi rd ti me to ac tu ally p u ll the h an d le o n the ri p - c o rd
an d p o p the c hu te. A ll i n all , n o t a t erri bly d i ffi c u lt t hi n g to d o .. . i n the o ry . T h e
o n ly d i s trac ti o n w as that I w o u ld b e hu rtli n g to ea rth at m axi mu m s p eed an d , fo r
o bv i o u s reas o ns , n eed ed to d o i t ri ght the fi rs t ti me. So I rehe ars ed the s equ en c e
ten ti mes . I d i d this qu i te d eli beratel y as a p rac ti c al ap p li c ati on o f the PRR s trategy
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w e hav e been talk i n g abo u t thi s p ast w eek . I d i d thes e rehears als k n o w i n g fro m
mi li tary exp eri en c e that they w o u ld mak e me v ery p ro fi c i en t at the d ri ll an d mu c h
mo re li k ely to be able to d o i t w ell, ev en in the hi ghly emo ti o n al s i tu atio n o f my
free f all .
The Plane
A fter k i tti n g u p i n the s u i t an d p arac hu te w e bo a rd ed the p lan e. I s at o n a ben c h o n
the left s i d e o f the p lan e o p p os i te the s p ec i al j u mp d o o r o n the ri ght s id e. My tw o
j u mp mas ters s at, v ery c lo s e to me, o n ei ther s i d e. T hey w ere v ery hy p ed u p and
there w as a great d eal o f " Let' s go d o i t!" an d " Y o u lo o k great, Mi k e." etc . etc .
Pres u mably thi s w as to k eep my s p i ri ts u p , k eep me o c c u p i ed and s to p me fro m
p u lli n g o u t, s o methi n g that I v ery mu c h w o u ld hav e li k ed to hav e d o n e i f the c o s t to
my s elf- es teem had n ' t b een s o p ro hi biti v e.
The Omission
E v en tu ally the p lan e r eac hed the fi n al c i rc u i t an d lev elled o f at 12 50 0 f eet. T h ey
o p en ed the j u mp d o o r an d i t s eemed the w ho le s i d e c ame o f f the p lan e. No w the
s o u n d o f the c o ld ai r ru s hi n g by w as ro ari n g i n my ears , a rc i n g u p the fea r
thres ho ld , an d as I p eered o u t th e ear th s eemed j u s t li k e a map . It w as real ly , rea lly
hi gh. Y o u c o u ld n ' t mak e o u t c ars o r ho u s es j us t the geo m etri c s hap es o f the fi eld s
an d the lo n g s i lv er s n ak e o f a ri v er re flec ti n g the r ay s o f the s etti n g s u n .
T hen the Mai n J u mp mas ter s ai d s o methi n g that real ly thr ew me. So methi n g that I
had n ' t rehears ed an d s o methi n g that s en t an i c e c o ld w av e o f p ani c thro u gho u t my
bo d y . H e s ai d , " Get i n to p o s i ti o n !" T hi s en tai led getti n g u p o ff the bench mo v i n g
ac ro s s to the o ther s i d e o f the ai rc raf t an d s i ttin g o n the ed ge o f the p lan e w i th my
legs o u ts i d e the d o o r , read y to j u mp . If I c o u ld hav e s p o k en at all , I w o u ld hav e s ai d
n o bu t the ter ro r tha t g ri p p ed me w a s o v erw helmi n g. I k n ew I w o u ld j u m p , bu t th e
tho u ght o f fal li n g o u t ac c i d en tally w hi le get ti n g i n to p o s i ti on really go t to me - I
had n ' t rehea rs ed get ti n g i n to p o s i ti on an d that w as w ha t s c ared me the m o s t. I o n ly
ho p ed I w as n o t s ho w in g the an xi ety I felt an d tri ed to lo o k reas o n ably c o o l.
The Exit
So meho w I man ag ed to g et i n to p o s iti o n . No w I w as s i tti n g w i th le gs a- d an gli n g,
12 50 0 feet ab o v e the ea rth , c o ld ai r ru s hi n g p as t, abo u t to j u mp o u t o f a p erfec tly
go o d ai rp lan e. I w as s o c ro s s w i th mys elf fo r p u tti n g my s elf i n s u c h an u nn ec es s ary
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The Fall
I lo s t i t fo r t he fi rs t few s ec o n d s . T he s heer qu an ti ty o f n ew i n fo rmati o n bein g
p res en ted to me mad e me b ro w n o u t. B u t then I s n app ed to agai n an d c o n tin u ed the
d ri ll: c hec k the ho ri zo n .. . n o w , p o s i ti v e ey e c o n tac t w i th the j u mp mas ter o n my
left. W o w ! Lo o k at hi s fac e. H is s k i n i s flap p in g an d rip p lin g j u s t li k e the
as tro n au ts . I s u p p os e min e mu s t be d o i n g the s ame. H e lo o k s me ri ght i n the ey e
an d ac k n o w led ges my c o ns c i ou sn es s w i th a g ri n an d a fri en d ly thu mbs u p s i gn .
Dri ll: I then d o th e s ame w i th the m an o n my ri ght. H e mak es me fe el go o d w i th a
fi rm ac k n o w led gmen t that I' m OK an d d o in g fi n e ... c hec k the alti meter - 10 0 0 feet
... an d then , rep eat the d ri l l, j u s t li k e I rehe ars ed i t.
The Grin
T he n ext few mi n u tes co n si s ted o f left tu rn s an d ri ght tu rn s an d 18 0 s as I
man i p u lated the c o n tro ls o f the c hu te. F i n ally , p u ll bo th han d s d o wn and a s tall fo r
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In SOT trai n i n g w here PR R i s the s ec ret w eap o n , the en d i s alw ays the begi n n i n g,
s o I en c o u rage y o u to rew ard y o u rself fo r fi n i s hi n g thi s ro u n d an d to p lan y o u r
c o mmen c emen t o f y o u r n ext ro u n d o f trai n i n g!
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Business Maps
H o w d o es a Chi ef E xec u ti v e Offi c er ( CE O) mak e a s trate gi c bu s i n es s d eci s ion ?
H o w d o they ' s ee' a bu s i n es s ? On w hat bas i s i s thei r ' p erc ep ti o n ' o f t he bu s i n ess
fo rmed ? H o w d o they get a m ap o f a b u s i n es s ?
Medieval Measurement
A mazi n gly , mo s t o f to d ay' s i n v es tmen t an d bu si n ess d ec i si o ns are s ti ll bas ed o n an
i n v en ti on that has n o t y et b een u p d ated fo r o v er 50 0 y ears !
166
In the 1990 s w e alr ead y hav e c o mp u ters that c an d o u p to 40 bi lli o n c o mpu tati o n s a
s ec o n d and w e are s ti ll u s i n g p re- New to n i an p hy si c s to mak e o u r bu s i n ess
d ec i si o n s . In the n ext few y ears , thi s w i ll hav e to c han ge.
Knowledge-Based Companies
In k n o w led ge- bas ed c o mp an i es w hat d o es the trad i ti o n al ac c o u n ti ng s y s tem
c ap tu re? H ard ly an y thi n g.
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F ergu s o n o f the fi rm' s Cen ter fo r S tra tegi c Res earc h i n Chi c ago w ri tes ,
" W e are n o w w i tn es s in g, i n to d ay ' s w o rld o f tec hn o lo gy - en han c ed c o mmerc e, t he
emerg en c e o f a ri c h s tar - i n thi s c as e a n u mber: $3 .5 tri lli o n . T hat' s th e amo u n t
d es c ri bi n g the en o rmo u s p ro fi ts w ai tin g fo r bu s i n ess es alo n g the u n iv ers al n etw o rk
k n o w n as the “i n fo rmati o n hi ghw ay " . Perh ap s at n o ti me has tec hn o lo gy d o mi n ated
the n ew s as i t has o f late. Maj o r o r gan i s ati o n s are j o ck ey in g fo r p o s i ti on s at the
c as h flo w p oi n ts o n the u ni v ers al n etw o rk , an d thei r mergers an d o ther i n i ti ati v es
hav e mo v ed the bu s i n es s p age to the f ro n t p age.
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F o r s o me, g reat w eal th i s the u lti mat e rew a rd . F o r o thers , th e rec o gn i ti o n o f o n e' s
p eers has great v alu e. F o r o the rs , t he p ro mi s e o f an i mmo rtal s elf w as the mo s t
i rres i s ti ble rew ard o f all , an d o n e fo r w hi c h d eath had s eemed a fai r p ri c e t o p ay .
Reward Power
A s w i th mo s t i n s tru men ts o f p o w er there are tw o s i d es to th e p o w er o f rew a rd :
gi v i n g an d rec ei v in g.
So me p eo p le hav e d i ffi c u lty w i th rec ei v i n g a rew ard fo r thei r effo rts o r th e y may be
embarr as s ed at the p ro s p ec t o f r ec ei v i n g s p eci al rec o gn i ti o n . I hav e n o ti c ed thi s
mo re i n A us trali a than i n the U S an d i t may hav e s o methi n g to d o w i th the
A u s trali an p hen o men on kn o w n as the T all Po p p y Sy n d ro me w hi c h i s the habi t s o me
Lazy Cri ti c s hav e o f " k n o c ki n g" p eop le w ho s ti c k thei r head abo v e the c ro w d .
Tall Poppies
T he Lazy Cri ti c s ' p as ti me o f b eli ttli n g the e ffo r ts o f o the rs mu s t s u rely a ffec t o u r
n ati o n al p ro d uc ti v i ty . If w e are u n c o mfo rtable w i th rew ard i n g o ther p eo p le's
attemp ts at c lev ern es s then w e c a n n o t exp ec t o thers to hav e a go . T hi s PT V
s y nd ro me i s an un w an ted hin d ran c e to the d ev elo p men t o f o u r i n tellec tu al c ap i tal
an d o u r go al o f b ei n g k n o w n as T he Clev er Co u n try .
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SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
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SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
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F o r thi s Co n v en ti o n , half the d e leg ates w ere ap p o i n ted an d half w ere elec ted .
Sev en ty - s i x o f the d elegates w ere el ec ted by the A us trali an p eo p le in a v o lu n tary
p o s tal ballo t. T he o t her s ev en ty - s ix w ere ap p o i n ted by the Go v ern men t. T he
d elegates c o me fro m ev ery Sta te an d T erri to ry an d had a wi d e d i vers i ty o f
bac k gro u n d s an d in teres ts . T he thi r d Co n v en ti on w as c hai red by the Rt H o n Ian
Si n c lai r MP, w i th t he H o n B ar ry J o n es A O MP as Dep u ty Chai rm an . D u ri n g the
Co n v en ti o n the tw o mai n mod els fo r s elec ti n g a P res i d en t o f A u s trali a w ere
d ebated : 1. ap p o i n ted , o r 2 . e lec ted .
174
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Sec ti o n 116 allo w s all A u s trali an s to ben efi t fro m o u r g reat c o mmo n w ealth o f
reli gi o - d i v ers i ty . J u s t to men ti o n a f ew : A u s trali an s s hare i n the lo n g, p r e- hi s to ri c
ev o lu ti o n o f the A bo ri gi n al d reami ng, the w i s d o m gai n ed fro m the s u fferi n g o f
J u d ai s m, the w armth o f the b ro th erh o o d o f Is lam, the c ha ri ty o f the Chri s ti an s w i th
thei r lo v e o f Go d an d fel lo w hu man s bei n gs , the p eac e an d c o mpas s i o n o f
B u d d his m, the p lu rali s m o f the H in du s , the T ao i s t res p ec t o f n atu re, the emp has i s
o n relati o n s hi ps an d man n ers o f Con fu c i ani s m, the s o c i al j u s tic e o f Mar xi s m, the
hu man i s t freed o m o f the li b erals , th e ho li s ti c ap p ro ac h o f the A fri c an s , the Si k hs
w i th thei r hu mo u r an d s in c eri ty , an d , a gro w i n g n u mber o f A u s trali an s - abo v e 2 5%
- w ho are fr ee to s tat e that they hav e n o reli gi o n at all .
I b eli ev e Sec ti o n 11 6 i s a v ery c lev e r meme tha t has allo w ed A u s tra li a t o bec o me
i n hab i ted by a free- thi n k in g, fri en d ly , d ec en t an d d emo c rati c c o mmonw ealth o f
p eo p le an d gro w n by i mmi gran ts w ho are a ttr ac ted to thi s k i n d o f li fes ty le.
A ltho u gh i t i s v ery s mall, A u s trali a i s a hi ghly ev o lv ed n ati on w here there i s a
c o n s tan t di alo gu e betw een the go v e rn men t an d the p eo p le v i a the in dep en d en t
med i a. A u s trali an s , li k e the P ac k ers an d the Mu rd o c hs , hav e been w o r ld l ead ers i n
med i a an d bro ad c as t tec hn o lo gy fo r man y d ec ad es an d the A u s trali an mark et i s a
hi ghly s o p hi s tic ated o n e.
A c u rren t examp le o f thi s k i n d o f d i alo gu e i s the Go v ern men t' s p u bli c ed u c ati o n
c amp ai gn , relati n g to the te rro ri s t threat . T he A u s trali an Pri me Mi n i s ter
an n o u nc ed , " T he p u rp o s e o f the c amp ai gn , w hi c h i s li k ely to las t fo r abo u t three
mo n ths , i s to i n fo rm, re- as s u re an d en li s t the p u blic in lo o k in g o u t fo r A us trali a i n
the hei ght en ed terro ri s t c i rc u ms tan c es i n w hic h w e n o w fin d o u rs elv es ."
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A s a sc i en tis t, I w as tau ght tha t o l d tru ths are rep lac ed by n ew tru th s as n ew
ev i d en c e bec o mes av ai lable. A s a hu man bei n g li v i n g in to d ay 's w o rld I d o n ' t n eed
to be a s c i en ti s t to reali s e thi s o bv i o us fac t.
Rep lac i n g o ld tru ths w i th n ew tru ths i s c alled thi n k in g. T o help p romo te thi s
ac ti v i ty , I s tarted the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) in New Y o rk i n 1979. SO T les s o n s
hav e n o w reac hed o v er 50 mi lli o n p eo p le w o rld w i d e. In a U SA i r a rti c le, SOT w as
o n c e d es c ri bed as " the Mc Do n ald s o f thi n k i n g" .
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I hav e s o me ti mes been ac c u s ed by the i n tellec tu al eli te fo r " s elli n g thi n k in g to the
mas s es " . I tak e i t as a c o mp li men t si n c e I c ann o t thi n k o f a better thi n g to s ell.
SOT , n o w the la rges t s c ho o l i n the w o rld , t eac hes n o t w hat to thi n k bu t H OW to
thi n k - thin k in g as a s ki ll - an d p ro v id es d ai ly thin k in g les s o ns to any o n e, an y p lac e,
an y ti me.
SOT ' s mi s si o n has alw ay s b een to get ' thi n k in g' tau ght to k i d s at s c ho o l b y p lac i n g
' thi n k in g' o n the c u rri c u lu m as a s c ho o l s u bj ec t. A t fi rs t, the re w as qu i t e a lo t o f
res i s tan c e to this p ro po s al. B u t i t di d rec ei v e w on d erfu l s up p o rt fro m so me v ery
s p ec i al p eo p le li k e my men to r, Pro fes s o r Geo rg e Gal lu p ( fo u n d er o f the Ga llu p Po ll
at P ri n c eto n ) , w ho o n c e en c ou raged me by telli n g me , " I beli ev e y o u r w o rk i n
teac hi n g p eo p le to thi n k may be the mo s t i mp o rtan t thi n g go i n g o n i n the w o rld
to d ay ."
In the mi d - ei ghti es ' teac hin g thi n k ing' bec ame a n ati o n w id e fad in U S ed uc ati o n led
by med i a arti c les i n tw o o f A meri c a' s mo s t in flu en ti al p u bli c ati on s: 1. a c ov er s to ry
I gav e to the Re ad ers Di ges t , an d 2 . a lead s to ry abo u t o u r p ro j ec t i n the New Y o rk
T i mes , " T EA CH ING T O T H INK : A NEW E MPH A SIS A T SCH OOLS A ND COLLE GE S"
( J an 9, 198 3 ) .
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Mi n i s ter H aw k e, d ec reed :
No lo n ger c o n ten t to be j u s t the lu c k y c o u n try ,
A u s trali a mu s t n o w bec o me the c lev er c o u n try .
T he Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g beli ev es the mo s t s u c c es s fu l an d s ec u re ro u te to an
' i nn o v ati o n c u ltu re' o r a ' c lev er c oun try ' is to p u t thi nk i n g as a s k i ll o n the c o re
c u rri c u lu m o f the ed u c ati o n s ys tem.
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On the o the r h an d , i f a c hi ld rec ei v es regu lar d eli bera te t rai n i n g i n thi n k in g s k i lls ,
i f ' thi n k in g' has a p lac e o n the c u r ri c u lu m, then tha t c hi ld s ees a v alu e b ei n g p lac ed
o n ' thi n ki n g.' T hat s o c i ety has s ho w n i t v alu es thi n k i n g an d has p o si ti o n ed i ts elf as
hav i n g an i nn o v ati o n cu ltu re."
( E X T RA CT F ROM) - SU B MISS IO N T O T H E H OU SE OF RE PRE SE N T A T IVE S
ST A NDING COM MIT T E E ON I NDU ST RY , SC IE NCE A ND T E C H NOLOGY
RE GA RDING T H E COM MIT T E E ' S IN QU IRY INT O IN NOVA T IO N I N A U ST RA LIA B Y
DR. M ICH A E L H E W IT T - GLE E SON, F OU NDE R & PRI NCI PA L T H E SCH OOL OF
T H INK ING - 1 F E B RU A RY 1995
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181
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TOTA L SC O R E.
Interpretation
T hi s i s n o t a s c i en ti fi c tes t. It' s j u s t an au d i t o r c hec k li s t to
help y o u tak e s to c k o f y o u r thi n k in g, that' s all! A trai n ed thi n k er
c an d i rec t hi s o r her thi n k i n g an d us e i t i n a d eli berate man n er to
p ro d u c e an effec t. T o a t rai n ed an d s ki lled thi n k er, thi n k i n g i s a
to o l that c an b e u s ed at w i ll an d the u s e o f thi s to o l i s p rac ti c al.
T hi s abi li ty to u s e ' thin k in g as a s k i ll' i s the s o rt o f thi n k i n g
abi li ty that i s requ i red to ge t thi n gs DONE .
R e c o rd you r sc o re he re :
H o w d o es thi s s c o re c o mp are w i th y ou r s c o re at the b egi n n i n g o f y o u trai ni n g?
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F o r examp le, th ere w i ll b e tho s e w ho hav e had an un d ers tan d in g o f the les s o n s
s i mi lar to y o u r u n d ers tan di n g an d , o f c o u rs e, o thers w ho d i d n o t s hare y o u r
u n d ers tan d in g at all, bu t hav e had qu i te a d i fferen t o r ev en c o n trary v i ew .
T hi s help s to mak e the Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e a s elf- ed uc ati n g, i n telli gen t s y s tem. I
ho p e y o u ' v e fo u nd i t u s efu l.
F R EE:
If y o u w i s h to hav e free trai n i n g there are th ree o p ti o n s :
1. F RE E : Y o u c an d o the o n li n e v ers i o n o f thi s Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e
( ST C) n o w o r at an y ti me i n the fu tu re. J u s t lo gi n an d en ro l at
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w w w .s c ho o lo fthi n k in g.o rg
2. F RE E : If y o u thi n k they w o u ld fi n d i t u s efu l, y o u c an o ffer the Sp eed
T hi n k ers Co u rs e ( ST C) that y o u h av e j u s t c o mp leted , to fami ly o r
fri en d s o r s c ho o lmates o r bu s i n ess c olleagu es .
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MA R C U S A U R ELIU S ~
A man ' s li fe i s w hat hi s tho u ghts mak e o f i t.
C H A R LES R EA D E ~
So w a tho u g ht, an d y o u reap an ac t . So w an ac t an d y o u reap a habi t . So w a
hab i t, an d y o u reap a c harac te r. So w a c harac te r an d y o u reap a d es ti n y .
MA R K (N e w Te s ta m e nt 9; 23) ~
If tho u c an s t beli ev e, a ll thi n gs ar e p o s s i ble to hi m that beli ev eth .
TIMO TH Y D WIGH T ~
T he hap p i es t p ers o n i s the p ers o n w ho thi n k s the mo s t i n teres ti n g tho u ghts .
A R ISTOTLE ~
T he s o u l n ev er thi n k s w i tho u t a men tal p i c tu re.
CARL JUNG ~
T he d ebt w e o w e to the p l ay o f i magi n ati o n i s in c alc u lable.
A LB ER T EIN STEIN ~
Imagi n ati o n i s mo re i mp o rtan t than k n o w led ge.
K U R T VON N EGU T J R ~
W e are w hat w e i ma gi n e o u rs elv es to be.
MU H A MMA D –
W ho are the lea rn ed ? T ho s e w ho p rac ti s e w hat they k n o w .
EA R L N IGH TIN GA LE ~
W e bec o me w hat w e thi n k abo u t.
J P GU ILD F OR D ~
T o li v e i s to hav e p ro b lems , an d to s o lv e p ro blems i s to gro w i n tellec tu al ly .
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A LB ER T EIN STEIN ~
T o rai s e n ew qu es ti o ns , n ew p o ss i bili ti es , to rega rd o ld p ro blems fro m a n ew
an gle requ i res a c reati v e i magi n ati o n an d mark s the real ad v an c es i n s c i en ce.
D OU GLA S A D A MS ~
In telli gen c e i s the abi li ty to s ee many p oi n ts o f v i ew w i tho u t go i n g c o mpletely
bo n k ers .
WILLIA M J A MES ~
Rep eated tho u ghts w ear a k i n d o f p sy c hi c gro o v e i n the mi n d . T he gro o v e gets
d eep er w i th eac h rep eti ti o n . …… T he grea tes t d i s c o v ery o f my gen erati o n is that
hu man bei n gs c an alter t hei r li v es by alteri n g thei r atti tu d es o f mi n d … W e n eed
o n ly , i n c o ld b o o d , ac t as tho u gh the thi n g i n qu es ti o n w ere real an d it w i ll
bec o me i n falli b ly real by gro w i n g in to s u c h a c on n ec ti on wi th o u r li fe that i t w i ll
bec o me real. It w i ll b ec o me s o k n i t w i th habi t an d emo ti o n that o u r in teres ts in
i t w i ll be tho s e that c ha rac teri s e bel i ef … If y o u o n ly c are en o u gh fo r a res u lt
y o u w i ll almo s t c ertai n ly attai n i t.
TH E 14TH D A LA I LA MA ~
Do n ' t w o rry ! If y o u hav e a p ro bl em an d i t i s fi xable, then t here i s n o n eed to
w o rry abo u t i t. A n d , i f y o u hav e a p r o blem an d i t i s n o t fi xable t hen the re i s n o
n eed to w o rry ab o u t i t ei ther . W o r ry c an n ev er help an y thi n g.
WILLIA M SH A K ESPEA R E ~
Ou r d o u bts are trai to rs an d mak e u s lo s e the go o d w e o ft mi ght w i n by feari n g to
attemp t.
ED WA R D D E B ON O ~
T he mo re i n tel li gen t a p e rs o n i s the les s li k ely they ar e to be a go o d th i n k er.
T hi s is bec au s e they ten d to us e their thi n k i n g effo rt to d efen d thei r p o in t- o f-
v i ew rather th an to es c ap e fro m i t, s o they o ften get trap p ed by thei r o w n
c lev ern es s .
R EN E D ESC A R TES ~
It i s n o t en o u gh to hav e a go o d mi n d . T he mai n thi n g i s to u s e i t w ell.
C IC ER O ~
Memo ry i s the tr eas u ry an d gu ard i an o f all t hi n gs .
GEOR GE B ER N A R D SH A W ~
Peo p le are alw ay s blami n g c i rc u ms tan c es fo r w hat they are. I d o n ' t believ e i n
c i rc u ms tan c es . T he p eo p le w ho g et o n i n thi s w o rld are the p eo p le w ho get u p
an d lo o k fo r the c i rc u ms tan c es they w an t an d i f they c an ' t fin d them … mak e
them!
MA R Y B A K ER ED D Y ~
T he ti me fo r t hi n k ers has c o me.
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N OR MA N VIN C EN T PEA LE ~
T hi s i s on e o f the greates t law s o f the u n i v ers e. F erv en tly d o I w is h I had
d i s c ov ered i t as a y o un g man , bu t i t came to me mu c h later i n li fe and I fou n d i t
to be o n e o f my g reat es t d i s c o v eri es . A n d the Great Law s i mp ly s tated i s th i s : If
y o u thi n k in n egati v e terms y o u w i ll get n egati v e res u lts . If y o u thi n k i n
p o s i ti v e terms y o u wi ll get p o s i ti v e res u lts .
TH E 14TH D A LA I LA MA ~
T hi n k ! T hi n k! T hin k ! … Prac ti s e! Prac ti s e! Prac ti s e!
EPIC TETU S ~
If y o u w an t to d o s o methi n g, mak e a habi t o f i t; i f y o u w an t n o t to d o s o methi n g,
refr ai n fro m d o i n g i t.
GEOR GE H ER B ER T ~
If the b rai n s o w s n o t c o rn , i t p lan ts thi s tles .
ER IC B IEN STOC K ~
Chan ge y o u r thi n k i n g an d all els e w i ll fo llo w .
A LB ER T EIN STEIN ~
No amo u n t o f exp eri men tati o n c an ever p ro v e me ri ght; a s in gle exp eri men t c an
p ro v e me w ro n g.
N A POLEON H ILL ~
W hat the mi n d c an c o nc ei v e an d beli ev e, i t c an ac hi ev e.
GEOR GE ELIO T ~
T he s tro n ges t p ri n c i p le o f gro w th li es i n hu man c hoi c e.
LIN U S PA U LIN G ~
T he bes t w ay to get a go o d i d ea i s to g et a lo t o f i d eas .
H ER A C LITU S ~
If y o u d o n o t exp ec t the u n exp ec ted y o u w i ll n o t fi n d i t.
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Co mp leti o n Qu es ti o n:
H av e y o u read the les s o n s i n this c o urs e?
Y o u r an s w er: Y E S/NO
T ak e c are o f y o u r b r ai n !
Cheers ,
Mi c hael
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