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Genius Thinking:

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Lessons From History’s Greatest Minds on Innovation,

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Creativity,

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and Intelligence (Mental Models for Better Living Book 6)

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Written by

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Peter Hollins

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Narrated by Russell Newton.

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What is a genius?

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Perhaps the first answer that pops into

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your mind is the popular depiction of

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geniuses in T. V. shows.

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You know the kind - smart-talking,

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slightly arrogant black sheep who seem

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to solve the crime or win the chess

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tournament without breaking a sweat.

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People have always been fascinated with

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genius,

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and with the ability to wield superior

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intellectual mastery.

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Whether we admire geniuses in the arts,

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science,

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or business,

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there’s something so irresistible

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about the idea of a human being

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operating at their fullest potential.

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If you’ve picked up this book,

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it’s likely you too are interested in

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what exactly sets geniuses apart.

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Are they just born that way,

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and us mere mortals can do nothing but

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look on in admiration?

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Or perhaps there is no such thing as

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genius at all,

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only years of punishing,

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diligent hard work that pays off

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eventually?

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In this book,

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we’re going to take the perspective

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so often adopted by geniuses themselves

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- we’re going to approach the idea of

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intellectual mastery and success as our

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topic,

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and study it as Einstein studied

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physics.

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In other words,

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we’ll become students of human

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success,

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and look closely not into any one

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subject,

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but into the way we think about those

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subjects,

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and how we can optimize our learning

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and abilities.

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We’ll observe,

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take notes,

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and see what we can learn from the

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great thinkers of our time—and

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there’s a lot to learn,

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for those who are willing to pay

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attention.

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What genius can you think of,

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off the top of your head?

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In this book,

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we’ll look at the lives and works of

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people like Socrates,

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Einstein,

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Descartes,

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Darwin and Copernicus,

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among others.

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Despite living in different cultural

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and historical periods,

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and despite having different interests

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and ideas,

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these men in fact share a surprisingly

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predictable set of personal

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characteristics.

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So,

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what are these traits?

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Before you carry on reading,

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close this book and see if you can zoom

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in on just one or two qualities or

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attributes that you think make the

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essence of a genius.

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Intellectual curiosity.

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Chances are,

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you thought of something along the

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lines of “a genius is intellectually

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hungry and curious about everything."

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No matter the chosen outlet,

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intelligent and highly conscious people

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tend to want to know why.

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It’s this active,

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deliberate perspective that sets them

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apart from others who are happy to take

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things as they are,

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without ever looking more deeply into

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them.

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When we are children,

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we are perhaps more like natural

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geniuses than at any other time in our

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lives.

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We are the proverbial learning sponges,

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soaking everything up,

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asking a million questions a day,

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wanting to know how things work just

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for the joy of having that knowledge.

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When we grow up,

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adults around us indoctrinate us into

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certain educational conventions and

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institutions that dull this natural

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curiosity.

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We learn the rules,

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the right answers,

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and which authority to defer to.

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In other words,

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we stop relying on our own innate

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fascination with the universe around us.

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For a genius,

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curiosity never seems to subside.

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No matter how old they are,

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they seem to have a knack for looking

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at the world with the wonder of a

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little child seeing it all for the

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first time.

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They are enraptured by things that

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other people think are commonplace.

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They want to understand how it all

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works,

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what it means,

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how it fits together,

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and they don’t stop investigating

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until they find out!

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And this leads us to conclude something

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interesting - that people like Socrates

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and Einstein aren’t in possession of

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something superhuman;

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rather,

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they may have merely figured out how to

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retain a certain mindset that all

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humans are typically born with.

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We’ll be focusing on such people in

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this book because their lives are a

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matter of public record,

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and it’s easy to see what might have

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worked for them,

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but geniuses are all around us and more

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common than we think.

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Granted,

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many people in the world are dogged in

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their pursuit of knowledge.

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Picture a journalist relentlessly

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pursuing the “truth” or the next

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scoop,

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or an academic going over their field

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with a fine-tooth comb as they compile

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a Doctor of Philosophy thesis.

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The difference here,

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though,

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is that such people may be pursuing

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knowledge and intellectual mastery for

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some secondary gain.

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For example,

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they choose to learn and develop skills

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so they can make money,

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or win the esteem of their peers,

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or satisfy the expectations of others.

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The genius,

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on the other hand,

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doesn’t care about these things,

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or at the very least,

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these benefits are a distant second to

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the main reason for learning - “just

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because."

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And this is arguably why they can go

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further!

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A genius pursues knowledge and

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understanding for its own sake.

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The thrill of learning,

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of peering into the mysteries of life,

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of gaining a grasp of what was once

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unintelligible—these things are seen

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as rewards in themselves,

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and they are their own good worth

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chasing.

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You can see this in the fact that many

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geniuses will pursue knowledge and

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understanding despite the fact that it

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actually compromises things like money,

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security,

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and social approval.

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As we’ll soon see,

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many of the most celebrated geniuses

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throughout history were actually

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reviled by their peers at the time,

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or sacrificed relationships and

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financial security in order to pursue

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the object of their intellectual

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fascination.

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Geniuses are never lukewarm about the

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unknown,

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and they certainly don’t fear it.

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Instead,

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they are enchanted with it,

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and seek to satisfy their curiosity.

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Their attitude is one of the natural

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scientist—they want to engage with

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the deeper functioning of the universal

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machine,

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rather than simply accept the surface

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manifestations.

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Is this a trait that you can actually

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develop in yourself,

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though?

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Absolutely.

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Remember,

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we are all born with an innate

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curiosity—we wouldn’t know what we

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know now or indeed have survived to

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adulthood unless we were 100 percent

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fine-tuned natural learning machines!

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It’s a question of reconnecting with

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that inborn curiosity and yearning to

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understand.

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There’s no point in pretending we are

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all born with the same talents,

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intelligence levels,

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and aptitudes,

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but remember that this is only part of

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the picture.

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If you can imagine an intelligent

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person who has lived an unremarkable,

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unexamined life,

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or if you can imagine a person who has

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learned much despite being only

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moderately talented,

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then you can see immediately that raw

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aptitude is nice,

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but attitude makes the difference at

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the end of the day.

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This attitude is one and the same with

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being “open-minded."

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It’s curiosity.

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When last were you genuinely curious?

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Try this - Just for today,

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go out into the world and literally

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imagine that you are a child again and

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everything is new to you (or maybe

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imagine that you are an alien who is

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seeing Earth for the first time and

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trying to make sense of it).

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Spend a day asking questions of the

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things that happen around you.

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Notice where your own curiosity is

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piqued.

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Where do you feel that rush of

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excitement and energy,

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that feeling that is as exhilarating as

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discovering a chocolate bunny on an

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Easter egg hunt?

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When you notice yourself feeling this

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curiosity,

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pay attention.

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Go more deeply into the questions you

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have.

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Think creatively about what you see,

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and ask yourself,

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“In what ways could this be

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different?"

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Don’t rush in to squash that

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uncertainty and mystery with a canned

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explanation,

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but rather relish the unknown.

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Many geniuses are able to make enormous

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breakthroughs in their field precisely

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because they were able to see the

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profoundly obvious facts of existence

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that everyone else has dutifully

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trained themselves out of noticing.

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Look for problems,

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and daydream about novel solutions to

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them.

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We tend to think of geniuses as

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serious,

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joyless people,

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but nothing could be further from the

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truth.

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The start of every marvelous idea or

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innovation is essentially play.

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To access this state of mind,

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ironically,

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asks us to drop our ideas of being

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smart,

293
00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,720
of being right or admired by others.

294
00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,880
It asks us to forget about the goals we

295
00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,080
might attach to being intellectually

296
00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:04,760
superior.

297
00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,280
Many of the world’s greatest

298
00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,560
discoveries were made by accident,

299
00:10:09,560 --> 00:10:11,880
when people relaxed their minds and

300
00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,200
simply looked at the same old things in

301
00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:15,560
a slightly different way.

302
00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:18,760
We’ll explore the fundamental value

303
00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:19,880
of curiosity,

304
00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,360
open-mindedness and a perspective of

305
00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,160
goalless play in subsequent chapters,

306
00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:26,560
but for now,

307
00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:28,760
imagine that a genius is nothing more

308
00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,080
than a child who sees the entire world

309
00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:32,880
as a vast and wonderful playground.

310
00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:34,840
With this mindset,

311
00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,200
you are halfway to being a genius

312
00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:37,720
yourself.

313
00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,560
Willpower and discipline.

314
00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:43,400
Of course,

315
00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:45,480
it’s not all just fun and games.

316
00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,040
Though many Eureka moments have

317
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:49,680
happened in the ways described above,

318
00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:52,120
this is only the start of the journey.

319
00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,720
A person who is blessed with loads of

320
00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,040
natural curiosity will find plenty of

321
00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:58,640
interesting avenues of inquiry,

322
00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,960
but may never actually muster the

323
00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,520
energy and discipline to go all the way

324
00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:05,760
in any single one of them.

325
00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,640
This is because another quality is

326
00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:10,520
essential for reaching that level we

327
00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,600
associate with genius - hard work.

328
00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,560
There is a phenomenon known to all

329
00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:20,160
university lecturers - A brilliant,

330
00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,240
high-achieving student leaves high

331
00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:23,840
school and enrolls in an esteemed

332
00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,960
program ...and then proceeds to flunk

333
00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:28,200
badly.

334
00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,560
The trouble is not that this smart and

335
00:11:30,560 --> 00:11:33,160
accomplished student is failing—the

336
00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,320
problem is that they don’t know how

337
00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:35,880
to fail.

338
00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:37,720
In other words,

339
00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:39,320
because of their intellect,

340
00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,760
learning until that point has been

341
00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,320
pretty easy for them and not something

342
00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:45,520
they’ve ever had to work at.

343
00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,840
When they advance in their learning and

344
00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:49,600
start to get closer to the limits of

345
00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:50,400
their understanding,

346
00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,280
they are completely unpracticed in

347
00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:54,920
dealing with confusion,

348
00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:56,080
uncertainty,

349
00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,400
and the prospect of having to work

350
00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,360
extremely hard to make progress.

351
00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,440
They simply have never developed those

352
00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:03,800
skills.

353
00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,920
Their success up to that point has

354
00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:07,400
been,

355
00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:08,320
if you like,

356
00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:08,920
for free.

357
00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:10,480
Meanwhile,

358
00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:10,920
other,

359
00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,520
more “average” students who have

360
00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:14,800
already learned to work hard in high

361
00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,080
school tend to adapt more easily and

362
00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,400
may outperform those who are by all

363
00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,240
measures more intelligent.

364
00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,480
If creativity,

365
00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,720
inspiration and curiosity are the spark

366
00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,320
that get the fire started (not to

367
00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:30,720
mention inborn intelligence),

368
00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,080
then at some point you need a constant

369
00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,520
source of fuel to keep those flames

370
00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,080
burning for the long term.

371
00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,880
When we look at geniuses or

372
00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:41,160
ultra-successful people,

373
00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,480
we only see their success.

374
00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,880
We see them at the end of their

375
00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:46,240
journey,

376
00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,600
once the grand theory has been pieced

377
00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:49,320
together,

378
00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,520
the invention finally works,

379
00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:53,800
or the magnum opus is completed.

380
00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,440
But this is just the surface gloss,

381
00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,360
just a fraction of a percent of the

382
00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,240
total work that such a person has

383
00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,560
actually undertaken over years,

384
00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:05,160
often decades.

385
00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:08,120
This is like watching a person step

386
00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:09,080
over the finish line in a

387
00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,600
marathon—the final step is just one

388
00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,760
of hundreds of thousands of other steps

389
00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:15,960
that have brought them to that point,

390
00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,320
none of them quite as exciting as that

391
00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:19,600
last one!

392
00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,240
Geniuses do the work that other people

393
00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:24,320
are not willing to do.

394
00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,080
These are the people who are prepared

395
00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,280
to stay up late into the night.

396
00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,080
In fact,

397
00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,240
it’s insatiable curiosity together

398
00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,800
with relentless hard work that produces

399
00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,000
most of the genius’s success.

400
00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:40,880
Without passion,

401
00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,800
they cannot push through challenge and

402
00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:44,280
adversity.

403
00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:45,760
Without the hard work,

404
00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,320
the passion is never attained and made

405
00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:49,720
real.

406
00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,360
People can become fatigued with their

407
00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,240
life course because although they have

408
00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,880
the fuel (i.e. the willingness to work

409
00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:58,400
hard),

410
00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,360
they lack the sincere love for the

411
00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,440
topic that helps “ignite” them.

412
00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,760
They give up long before the person who

413
00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,000
is willing to work hard,

414
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,720
but also genuinely passionate about

415
00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:11,680
their path of action.

416
00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:13,560
Patience,

417
00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:16,000
dedication and self-discipline are

418
00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,640
what’s needed to shape and direct our

419
00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,400
natural and spontaneous intellectual

420
00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:22,080
curiosity.

421
00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,240
Like scientists,

422
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,120
we need to organize and structure our

423
00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,120
inquiry into the world around us.

424
00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,480
Experiments of any kind are useless if

425
00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:33,640
they’re not properly planned,

426
00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,880
logically laid out and diligently

427
00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,640
executed,

428
00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:39,360
often many,

429
00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:40,600
many times over.

430
00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:41,840
For this,

431
00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,640
we need to apply consistent effort and

432
00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:45,000
focus.

433
00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,480
When you are driven by the “big

434
00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,080
picture” and are enjoying the process

435
00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:51,440
of learning for its own sake,

436
00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,800
you can defer the enjoyment that comes

437
00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:55,560
with success.

438
00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,920
You are able to wait for the payoff,

439
00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:59,560
sometimes for years,

440
00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,400
because you understand the process

441
00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:01,760
you’re in.

442
00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:06,280
Patience and delayed gratification come

443
00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,240
easier when you are on a path you

444
00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:09,400
genuinely care about.

445
00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,400
If only money or praise drive you,

446
00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,160
you will drop out of the race when it

447
00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:17,920
looks like the adversity is more

448
00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:18,800
trouble than it’s worth.

449
00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:19,760
Or else,

450
00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,960
you may be tempted to settle for a

451
00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,320
smaller goal in the interim and forego

452
00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,080
the bigger prize because you want the

453
00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,360
satisfaction of achievement now rather

454
00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:31,520
than later.

455
00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:32,400
So,

456
00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,280
a genius is a rare creature because

457
00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,400
they contain within them a powerful

458
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,720
blend of two quite opposing forces - on

459
00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:41,640
the one hand,

460
00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:42,880
they are open-minded,

461
00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:43,680
passionate,

462
00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:45,760
independent thinkers who pursue

463
00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,600
learning for the love of learning.

464
00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:48,880
On the other hand,

465
00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,200
they are supremely disciplined,

466
00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,840
focused and detail oriented,

467
00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,080
and can sit for a long time on work

468
00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,000
that may seem tedious and pointless to

469
00:15:59,000 --> 00:15:59,400
others,

470
00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,680
who cannot see the vision the genius is

471
00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:04,120
diligently working toward.

472
00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:05,160
Thus,

473
00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,440
one of the first myths we can dispel

474
00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,680
about human genius is that it’s a

475
00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,440
random fluke or a gift from the

476
00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:14,400
universe.

477
00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:15,360
Rather,

478
00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,320
genius is not so much about the tools

479
00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:19,800
you’ve been given in your tool box,

480
00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,520
but the wisdom with which you apply

481
00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:23,320
those tools,

482
00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:24,360
when,

483
00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:25,600
and how.

484
00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,320
How can you cultivate this diligence in

485
00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:29,880
yourself?

486
00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,640
This is the realm of self-discipline.

487
00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,040
The genius is their own teacher,

488
00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,120
and they don’t wait for external

489
00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:38,400
incentives to work hard.

490
00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:39,240
They just do it,

491
00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:40,800
and they keep doing it until they

492
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:44,080
satisfy their own high standards.

493
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,240
Then they up the standards!

494
00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,200
One way to bring some of this focus

495
00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,040
into your own life is to cut down on

496
00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:53,920
“noise” so you can better focus on

497
00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,080
the one (or maybe two)

498
00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,720
areas of life that are most important.

499
00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,200
You might decide that each day,

500
00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,760
you only focus on one main task.

501
00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,920
Really get sucked into it,

502
00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,160
and tune out all distractions.

503
00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:09,760
Go deep into the work,

504
00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,520
beyond the superficial.

505
00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,880
If you’re not challenged enough,

506
00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:15,760
push yourself more.

507
00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:17,560
If the work seems too hard,

508
00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,160
break it down and tick off smaller

509
00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,840
tasks until you gather momentum again.

510
00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:23,680
Whatever you do,

511
00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,280
don’t accept anything other than

512
00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:28,760
movement on your task.

513
00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,400
You can move slowly some days and more

514
00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:33,080
quickly on others,

515
00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:35,920
but never allow a day to go by where

516
00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,600
you don’t do something toward your

517
00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:39,320
chosen goal.

518
00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:43,480
This attitude that sees work as

519
00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,760
non-negotiable will make it easier to

520
00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:46,960
get into good habits.

521
00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,400
We’ll explore these techniques in

522
00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:50,680
greater detail later in the book,

523
00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,120
but a few fundamental principles

524
00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:55,400
underlie the most effective approaches.

525
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:56,480
For example,

526
00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,360
set your grand goal…and then forget

527
00:18:00,360 --> 00:18:00,760
about it.

528
00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:01,400
Instead,

529
00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,480
turn your focus onto manageable,

530
00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:05,480
daily habits.

531
00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,920
Make work on your path seem as

532
00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,280
automatic as brushing your teeth every

533
00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:11,560
day.

534
00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,480
The big goals are achieved step by

535
00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,400
step—and the genius knows how to

536
00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,040
focus on those small,

537
00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:20,240
incremental steps.

538
00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:21,920
At the end of every day,

539
00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:23,440
they have moved forward,

540
00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,800
even if it’s only a tiny amount.

541
00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,440
Intellectual honesty.

542
00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:33,440
Let’s consider some other key traits.

543
00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,640
Imagine the genius at work,

544
00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,040
day after day.

545
00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:38,200
They try Plan A,

546
00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:39,960
and it doesn’t quite work.

547
00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,160
They tweak it and attempt another

548
00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:42,520
version,

549
00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:47,360
Plan B. This is better but still not

550
00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:47,800
quite right.

551
00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:50,480
They admit that some assumptions are

552
00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:52,240
not exactly founded.

553
00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,360
Plan C doesn’t work at all,

554
00:18:54,360 --> 00:18:56,160
so they go back to the drawing board

555
00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:57,160
and begin afresh,

556
00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,600
this time with a completely new

557
00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:00,080
approach.

558
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:00,960
And so on.

559
00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,080
This kind of grueling step-by-step

560
00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,000
process requires patience and hard

561
00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:06,280
work,

562
00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,000
but it also needs something very

563
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,960
important - humility.

564
00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,840
A person who is never willing to admit

565
00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:15,840
they’re wrong stops at the very first

566
00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:16,160
hurdle.

567
00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,320
If you are stubborn,

568
00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,760
have a big ego and hate making

569
00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:21,720
mistakes,

570
00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:23,840
you will stay precisely where you are,

571
00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:24,960
knowledge-wise.

572
00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,000
Those who close their eyes to evidence

573
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,560
staring them right in the face are the

574
00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:31,800
opposite of scientists (and,

575
00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:32,360
in fact,

576
00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:33,920
they are the opposite of geniuses,

577
00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,000
you can pick your favorite

578
00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:36,520
description…)

579
00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,760
As an extension of being playful,

580
00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,360
open-minded and curious,

581
00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:44,320
one who pursues genius must be willing

582
00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,320
to let the process of learning lead

583
00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:47,160
them.

584
00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:48,840
Sometimes,

585
00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:50,560
this means that the process tells you,

586
00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:51,840
in no uncertain terms,

587
00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:52,880
“That’s wrong!

588
00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:54,120
Try again."

589
00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:57,760
A genius takes this “negative”

590
00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:58,640
feedback for what it is,

591
00:19:58,640 --> 00:19:59,760
thinks,

592
00:19:59,760 --> 00:19:59,880
“Hmm,

593
00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:03,520
that’s interesting,” changes their

594
00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,120
approach and simply tries again.

595
00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:08,680
A less-than-genius person looks at this

596
00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,400
feedback from the universe and is

597
00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:11,240
mortified.

598
00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,200
Because they have their ego wrapped up

599
00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:15,240
in the learning process,

600
00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:18,600
they see being wrong as a personal

601
00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:19,280
failure,

602
00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:20,840
and a reflection on who they are as

603
00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:21,240
people.

604
00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:22,400
So,

605
00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:23,840
when they get things wrong,

606
00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,440
they feel that they are wrong,

607
00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:27,760
and understandably,

608
00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,920
this feels like a pretty serious threat.

609
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,200
The response is to deny that they are

610
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:33,400
wrong,

611
00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:34,960
ignore the evidence,

612
00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,040
or sit tight and never grow because

613
00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,040
it’s too embarrassing to feel like a

614
00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:40,440
beginner.

615
00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,360
This is essentially the difference

616
00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:46,640
between a fixed mindset (i.e.

617
00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:48,640
“I am the way I am and I can’t

618
00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:49,120
change”)

619
00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:52,720
vs. a growth mindset (“It’s always

620
00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:53,920
possible for me to learn”).

621
00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,200
Take a look at the difference in

622
00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,960
attitude - Fixed mindset – Either you

623
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,480
can dance or you can’t.

624
00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,280
I’m one of those who can’t.

625
00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,880
Growth mindset – I’m still learning!

626
00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:09,560
It’s tough,

627
00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:11,920
but I practice an hour a day.

628
00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:16,600
Fixed mindset – Why try?

629
00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:18,080
You’ll only fail.

630
00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:22,200
Growth mindset – I’ll try this and

631
00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:23,120
see what happens.

632
00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:24,480
If it doesn’t work,

633
00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,120
that’s interesting data and I can use

634
00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:27,200
that.

635
00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:31,840
Fixed mindset – It’s easy for you

636
00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:32,320
to say,

637
00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:36,080
but I’m dyslexic so I can’t do that.

638
00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:41,840
Growth mindset – My results depend on

639
00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:43,080
my consistent effort.

640
00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,160
When I see others do well,

641
00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,320
I get curious about how they did it and

642
00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,080
see what I can learn from them.

643
00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,640
We can also broadly call this trait

644
00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:55,400
intellectual honesty.

645
00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,800
It’s the ability to be flexible,

646
00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,600
to be honest with yourself and to

647
00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:04,200
self-correct without too much bias or

648
00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:04,680
stubbornness.

649
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,000
The degree of your willingness to be

650
00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,480
wrong is directly proportional to your

651
00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:10,600
capacity to learn.

652
00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:11,400
After all,

653
00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,240
those who already know everything have

654
00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,960
no need to ask questions,

655
00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:18,080
to be better,

656
00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:19,680
or learn from others.

657
00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:20,400
So,

658
00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:20,920
they don’t.

659
00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,680
This is a trait that is very easy to

660
00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,240
develop in yourself,

661
00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:26,960
thankfully.

662
00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:27,960
How?

663
00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,160
It’s simple - be embarrassed

664
00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:31,880
occasionally.

665
00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,720
One thing that is incredibly freeing

666
00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,520
for the soul and the intellect is to

667
00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:39,160
quickly say,

668
00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,880
“I don’t know” when you really

669
00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:42,360
don’t know.

670
00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:44,600
If you’re in a discussion with

671
00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,320
someone who has just proven you

672
00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:46,680
incorrect,

673
00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,360
don’t dig yourself further into a

674
00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:51,680
hole by doubling down on your position

675
00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,120
or trying to make out that you were

676
00:22:54,120 --> 00:22:56,320
really right all along.

677
00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:57,600
Instead,

678
00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,720
say freely and quickly,

679
00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:01,120
“Yes,

680
00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:03,480
I think you’re right!” and simply

681
00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,960
let go of the idea or belief you held

682
00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:06,400
before.

683
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,000
Easier said than done.

684
00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,640
But if you can consistently practice

685
00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:12,080
this trait,

686
00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,720
you will soon develop intellectual

687
00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,480
honesty and ironically,

688
00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,480
people will view you and your opinions

689
00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:20,280
more favorably.

690
00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:23,840
You demonstrate not only intellectual

691
00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:25,600
maturity but wisdom and

692
00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,080
level-headed-ness when you can honestly

693
00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,560
admit gaps in your understanding.

694
00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,160
Remind yourself that being wrong or

695
00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,080
making mistakes is not the end of the

696
00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:35,560
world.

697
00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:36,600
In fact,

698
00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,000
if you’re not regularly encountering

699
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,680
your own ignorance and lack of skill,

700
00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,440
you aren’t challenging yourself

701
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:46,080
enough!

702
00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:50,680
See mistakes and being wrong as the

703
00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,560
entry fee for playing the learning game.

704
00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,040
Remember that even brilliantly

705
00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:57,720
accomplished geniuses throughout

706
00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:59,640
history have been wrong—in fact,

707
00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:01,680
they’ve probably been wrong more

708
00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,240
times than you!

709
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,520
The successful entrepreneur,

710
00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:07,360
it’s said,

711
00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:10,080
has failed more times than the average

712
00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:11,400
person has even tried.

713
00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:12,640
The genius,

714
00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:12,960
then,

715
00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,120
is not someone who finds everything

716
00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:17,120
easy and gets it right first time;

717
00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:18,000
rather,

718
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,680
they are the people who have a higher

719
00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,200
than normal threshold for tolerating

720
00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:22,840
uncertainty,

721
00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:24,840
“failure” or confusion.

722
00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,560
They are the ones willing to be

723
00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,320
embarrassing novices for years before

724
00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,480
they get to show off their skill.

725
00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,840
They are the ones who won’t mind when

726
00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:36,720
people laugh at their crazy idea.

727
00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,520
While everyone else might feel sorry

728
00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:41,600
for a person who lost tons of money on

729
00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:42,640
a venture that didn’t pan out,

730
00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,800
that person may themselves be thinking,

731
00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:47,080
“Excellent!

732
00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,800
Now I know exactly what not to do next

733
00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:51,240
time.

734
00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,600
This is great…” Other than

735
00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,440
regularly saying “I don’t know”

736
00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,280
or “I was wrong” (and meaning it),

737
00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:02,080
the genius mindset is characterized by

738
00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,240
a sincere lack of bias and prejudice.

739
00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,120
Keep in mind your natural

740
00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:10,560
curiosity—it’s not something that

741
00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,680
thrives in the presence of dogged

742
00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,880
beliefs and ideas that never budge.

743
00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,240
Take a look at your own self talk and

744
00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,200
see if you can identify any times where

745
00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:23,040
you use words like “always” and

746
00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:23,680
“never."

747
00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,200
These could give you a clue to your own

748
00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:30,080
stubborn biases or assumptions that may

749
00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:31,080
need updating.

750
00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:35,760
A dash of polymathy.

751
00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:39,320
Let’s move on to another fundamental

752
00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:40,320
trait,

753
00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:41,880
one which we can only call

754
00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,640
“jack-of-all-trades-ness."

755
00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,520
Genius thinking is more lateral than

756
00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:49,560
vertical.

757
00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:50,880
In other words,

758
00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:51,640
it’s broad.

759
00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,840
Though geniuses like to look into

760
00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:55,640
things in depth,

761
00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:57,960
they are never specialists.

762
00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,400
This is because their natural curiosity

763
00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:02,680
carries them into all fields and topics.

764
00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,520
If you ask “why?” often enough,

765
00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,160
you will soon find yourself studying

766
00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,520
everything in life—and why not?

767
00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,120
Why restrict yourself?

768
00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:15,120
As you’ll soon see,

769
00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:17,480
the intellectual heavyweights of

770
00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,320
history all had this in common - they

771
00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:21,120
read widely,

772
00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:24,960
and had an enormous range of interests.

773
00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,280
If they were scientists,

774
00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:29,800
they dabbled in all kinds of science,

775
00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:31,720
and also enjoyed poetry,

776
00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:32,720
hunting,

777
00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:35,680
and economic theory (for example).

778
00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,080
If they were involved in politics they

779
00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,720
also had a religious interest and

780
00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:41,440
painted,

781
00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,040
or if they were philosophers,

782
00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,200
they also had a keen interest in

783
00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,000
anthropology and music.

784
00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,440
You get the idea.

785
00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,160
They didn’t box themselves in.

786
00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,880
It’s only the human mind that divides

787
00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:54,560
the world into little

788
00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:56,880
categories—geniuses see that

789
00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,920
everything is actually connected,

790
00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,440
and don’t put limits on their

791
00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:02,040
inquiries.

792
00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:05,880
A genius is well-read and up to date.

793
00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:07,880
They want to understand what is

794
00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:08,520
happening around them.

795
00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:09,320
So,

796
00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:10,320
when they talk to anyone,

797
00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:12,960
chances are they have something to

798
00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:14,320
contribute to the conversation,

799
00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,720
and if they are completely oblivious,

800
00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,640
they go into investigation mode and

801
00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:21,880
learn as much as they can when they

802
00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:24,040
encounter someone who knows something

803
00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:24,720
they don’t.

804
00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,600
If they are familiar with mathematics

805
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:28,200
and programming,

806
00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,240
and they chat to an expert in

807
00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:30,680
literature,

808
00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,640
they can’t help but draw connections

809
00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:34,440
and relationships,

810
00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,000
seeking to understand the new knowledge

811
00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,560
in terms of what they already know.

812
00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,280
They might become curious about

813
00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,600
symbolic representation in literature,

814
00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,560
or wonder how an A. I. would codify and

815
00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,400
represent different writing styles,

816
00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,960
or how certain languages might be

817
00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,240
considered more “mathematical” than

818
00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:54,600
others.

819
00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:55,480
In fact,

820
00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:57,360
it’s this willingness to

821
00:27:57,360 --> 00:27:59,400
cross-pollinate different areas of

822
00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:02,120
knowledge that allows geniuses to come

823
00:28:02,120 --> 00:28:04,800
up with so many novel approaches and

824
00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:05,320
theories.

825
00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:09,120
Genius thinkers are at home with using

826
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:10,480
analogies of all kinds.

827
00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,560
Their minds are constantly looking for

828
00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,200
the biggest possible picture.

829
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,360
They want to know how everything fits

830
00:28:18,360 --> 00:28:18,720
together,

831
00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:20,960
so when they meet a new piece of

832
00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:21,360
knowledge,

833
00:28:21,360 --> 00:28:23,520
the first thing they do is examine it

834
00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,080
and see how it relates to the pieces

835
00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:27,120
they already possess.

836
00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:31,240
This is perhaps why so many truly great

837
00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,840
scientists are also deeply creative and

838
00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,920
artistic people—they know how to work

839
00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:39,600
with metaphor and analogy,

840
00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,120
and can rearrange concepts,

841
00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:43,600
switch perspectives,

842
00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:45,840
and “translate” ideas from one

843
00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:46,720
field to another.

844
00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:50,280
The way to foster this trait in

845
00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:52,600
yourself is to deliberately seek out

846
00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:55,040
connections and interrelations in

847
00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:56,360
everything you do.

848
00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,640
Don’t think in neat little boxes,

849
00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,440
but blend it all together.

850
00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,760
As a fun practice,

851
00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:06,520
look around in your life right now and

852
00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,800
identify one area in which you are an

853
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,320
expert (or aspiring to be!).

854
00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:17,400
Now think of an area that you are quite

855
00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:18,280
ignorant of.

856
00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:19,680
Next,

857
00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,600
see if you can draw connections between

858
00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:22,840
them.

859
00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:26,960
Can you see how economies are a little

860
00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:28,160
like ecosystems?

861
00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:31,040
Or can you understand how composing a

862
00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:34,360
complex orchestral piece is a bit like

863
00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:35,640
putting together a recipe?

864
00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,400
Maybe you can hear some music and

865
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,040
imagine that it has its own vocabulary

866
00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,440
and language—or indeed that it can be

867
00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:45,480
understood as a kind of animal.

868
00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:49,200
The point of making connections and

869
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:50,880
relationships this way is not to

870
00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,920
discover any real or true links,

871
00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:56,520
but rather to open up your own horizons

872
00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,320
and start to see the world more broadly

873
00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:01,680
(i.e. as it really is!).

874
00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:03,120
Sadly,

875
00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,520
people are taught that “left brain

876
00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:06,680
and right brain” are different,

877
00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,640
and that people who are good at

878
00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:10,840
“hard” sciences will naturally be

879
00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,080
deficient in art and languages,

880
00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,240
while those who are more creative and

881
00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,520
socially minded will flounder when it

882
00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:18,840
comes to things like business or

883
00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:19,440
engineering.

884
00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:22,520
A genius doesn’t follow these rules

885
00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:24,480
in the least—remember,

886
00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:25,880
they see the world as a playground,

887
00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,200
and not as a house with rooms they’re

888
00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:29,280
not allowed to go into.

889
00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,400
In your own life,

890
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,560
you can make a point of getting into

891
00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,960
the habit of never assuming something

892
00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:37,520
is outside your scope.

893
00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:40,200
Even if you think a certain topic or

894
00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,560
idea is too difficult or irrelevant,

895
00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,560
take a closer look anyway and see what

896
00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:46,120
you can learn.

897
00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:50,400
Another good practice is to routinely

898
00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,920
court information from all parts of the

899
00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:53,440
spectrum,

900
00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,280
i.e. don’t always go looking for

901
00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:59,200
material that only confirms the beliefs

902
00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:00,120
you already have.

903
00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:03,320
Don’t assume you know what “the

904
00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,440
other side” thinks and believes—go

905
00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:07,800
and check it out yourself!

906
00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,040
Get into real,

907
00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:12,560
good-faith arguments with people you

908
00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:15,280
disagree with and genuinely put

909
00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:16,480
yourself in their shoes.

910
00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:18,800
Deliberately seek out information

911
00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:20,280
online that contradicts your

912
00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:20,760
perspective,

913
00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:21,600
and see what happens.

914
00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,200
Besides saying “I don’t know”

915
00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:26,560
more regularly than others,

916
00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,160
geniuses also say something else -

917
00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:32,480
“This is my opinion… for now.

918
00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:33,880
But it’s only provisional.

919
00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,120
I’m willing to change it when I’m

920
00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,200
faced with evidence to the contrary."

921
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,480
Finally,

922
00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:42,640
in mentioning how geniuses are

923
00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:44,800
comfortable with holding provisional

924
00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:47,080
opinions and changing their minds when

925
00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:47,400
necessary,

926
00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:50,280
we can’t help but consider something

927
00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:51,240
else about them,

928
00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:54,120
namely that they are seldom

929
00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:55,280
conventional people.

930
00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:58,680
Geniuses are constantly thinking

931
00:31:58,680 --> 00:31:59,960
outside of the box,

932
00:31:59,960 --> 00:32:03,080
or looking closely at the box itself to

933
00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:04,520
see what it’s made of,

934
00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:05,600
and how it functions,

935
00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:06,160
and why.

936
00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:10,160
Such people are not rebels exactly,

937
00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:12,080
rather they follow their own

938
00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:12,560
principles,

939
00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:15,640
and seldom have blind respect for

940
00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,480
arbitrary rules they see no sense

941
00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:19,000
behind.

942
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,280
This is because they look more deeply

943
00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:22,960
into matters than is common;

944
00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,600
the world seems far more malleable and

945
00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,400
up for debate to them than it might

946
00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,400
seem to others—rules,

947
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:30,920
in this case,

948
00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:33,160
can look like pointless limits and

949
00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:33,840
interference.

950
00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:37,320
We’ve already seen that the genius

951
00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:40,000
perspective is one that draws creative

952
00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:40,400
connections,

953
00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:42,360
sees hidden relationships,

954
00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:45,160
and investigates deeply into the real

955
00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:46,520
causes of phenomena.

956
00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,840
Things like baseless public opinion,

957
00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,200
random rules for the sake of rules,

958
00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:54,600
and fearfully towing the line are

959
00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:57,560
likely to be far from a genius’s mind.

960
00:32:57,560 --> 00:32:58,200
But again,

961
00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,080
it’s not as though the people we call

962
00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:01,880
geniuses get a thrill from rule

963
00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:02,320
breaking;

964
00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:04,440
it’s more that they recognize a

965
00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:05,640
higher authority,

966
00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:07,960
and if they do end up obeying and

967
00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:08,600
following orders,

968
00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:10,920
it will be because they accept the

969
00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:13,400
validity of another deep thinker’s

970
00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:14,040
perspective.

971
00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:17,880
Genius thinking is more characterized

972
00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:20,920
by non-hierarchical social structures,

973
00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:24,400
non-linear thinking and a tendency to

974
00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,080
go against the grain—if the grain is

975
00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:28,480
something that is merely part of

976
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:29,600
tradition and convention,

977
00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,000
rather than genuinely the best way to

978
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:32,560
do things.

979
00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,000
This is why geniuses are so often

980
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:36,440
associated with science and

981
00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,200
innovation—these are the people who

982
00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,240
pull humanity forward with their

983
00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:44,880
insistence that there has to be more to

984
00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:45,120
life,

985
00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,800
even if people are afraid of trying

986
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:48,280
something new.

987
00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:51,800
Genius thinking is dynamic and

988
00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:52,920
adaptable.

989
00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:55,200
It’s not afraid to adjust itself,

990
00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:57,000
or to change as needed.

991
00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:57,960
Thus,

992
00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:00,760
a genius thinker will have no qualms

993
00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:04,280
about completely dropping an old way of

994
00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:07,240
life to pursue an entirely new way of

995
00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:07,480
being.

996
00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:09,800
They are happy to dream up novel

997
00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:10,320
solutions,

998
00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:12,240
creative new possibilities,

999
00:34:12,240 --> 00:34:15,600
or even fantastical and outlandish

1000
00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:17,000
dreams for the future.

1001
00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,280
They don’t tend to take these

1002
00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:21,240
thoughts and measure them against the

1003
00:34:21,240 --> 00:34:22,480
accepted standards of the day.

1004
00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:23,880
In other words,

1005
00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:26,160
they don’t care about being popular

1006
00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:29,160
or fashionable or even liked by others.

1007
00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:32,120
And this is what allows them to be true

1008
00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:33,760
explorers of the unknown.

1009
00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,600
This can be a difficult perspective

1010
00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:38,360
shift to bring into your own life,

1011
00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:39,960
because every one of us,

1012
00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:41,680
whether we admit it or not,

1013
00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,640
is deeply embedded in the values and

1014
00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:47,640
rules of our culture and historical

1015
00:34:47,640 --> 00:34:48,160
period.

1016
00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:51,240
We all have our assumptions and biases,

1017
00:34:51,240 --> 00:34:54,000
and our beliefs about what is and

1018
00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:55,000
isn’t possible,

1019
00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:56,760
what’s right and what’s wrong.

1020
00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:00,360
One of the genius’s best tools is the

1021
00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,080
mindset that comes with asking,

1022
00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:05,680
“What if?” and being genuinely open

1023
00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:08,200
to whatever answers stem from that.

1024
00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:11,160
Question your own “rules” that you

1025
00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:13,160
make for yourself and you’ll become

1026
00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:15,680
better at recognizing the unnecessary

1027
00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:17,280
limits placed on you by others.

1028
00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:20,960
You could practice this mindset

1029
00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:22,040
switching for yourself,

1030
00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:23,240
right now.

1031
00:35:23,240 --> 00:35:25,440
Get out a piece of paper and,

1032
00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:27,720
very quickly and without too much

1033
00:35:27,720 --> 00:35:28,000
thought,

1034
00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,480
write down five things that you

1035
00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,160
absolutely know to be true about

1036
00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:34,800
yourself or the world.

1037
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:37,560
Write down your core beliefs or

1038
00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:38,080
assumptions,

1039
00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:39,400
big or small.

1040
00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:42,080
Let’s say you wrote down,

1041
00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:45,440
“I value education and learning so

1042
00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:46,720
I’m going to try to get into

1043
00:35:46,720 --> 00:35:47,560
university."

1044
00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:49,120
Now,

1045
00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,120
look at this as neutrally as you

1046
00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:52,080
possibly can.

1047
00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:55,640
Look at the unspoken conditional nature

1048
00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:56,240
of the sentence,

1049
00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:58,920
i.e. the assumption that going to

1050
00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,240
university is the best (or only?)

1051
00:36:01,240 --> 00:36:02,640
way to get an education.

1052
00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,680
Consider the hidden biases and

1053
00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:08,280
expectations behind this—that

1054
00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:10,640
teaching and learning come from

1055
00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:12,120
recognized institutions,

1056
00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:13,840
i.e. externally,

1057
00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:17,120
and if you value education and learning

1058
00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:19,280
you need to appeal to these

1059
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:22,960
institutions to let them allow you to

1060
00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:23,600
learn.

1061
00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:27,080
It’s just a simple sentence that you

1062
00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:28,840
may never look more deeply into,

1063
00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:31,040
but on closer examination,

1064
00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:34,040
can you see how many rules are implied

1065
00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:34,360
in it?

1066
00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:38,600
Maybe it’s not true that university =

1067
00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:39,200
education.

1068
00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:41,720
A genius doesn’t take anything for

1069
00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:43,560
granted…they don’t even take their

1070
00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:44,640
own word for it.

1071
00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:45,160
They ask,

1072
00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:46,320
“What if…?"

1073
00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:48,800
What if it were possible to learn more

1074
00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,560
outside of university?

1075
00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,880
What if the thing that you most wanted

1076
00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:56,960
was actually not to follow the path

1077
00:36:56,960 --> 00:36:59,560
that others in your peer group pursue?

1078
00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:03,680
The answers are irrelevant—it’s the

1079
00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:06,200
fact of asking the question that is

1080
00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:06,720
important.

1081
00:37:06,720 --> 00:37:09,360
In the chapters that follow,

1082
00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:11,360
we’ll be looking more closely at

1083
00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:14,280
specific examples of people who many

1084
00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:15,520
have called geniuses.

1085
00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:17,920
We’ll see not only that each of these

1086
00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:19,920
people has perfectly demonstrated the

1087
00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:21,080
traits we’ve discussed here,

1088
00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:24,480
but exactly how they managed to express

1089
00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:26,120
these tendencies and traits in their

1090
00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:26,360
work,

1091
00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:29,160
and indeed how these characteristics

1092
00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:31,760
were actually the key to their success.

1093
00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:34,600
Takeaways.

1094
00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:38,560
•Geniuses come in all shapes and

1095
00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:38,880
sizes,

1096
00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:41,200
from all walks of life and all

1097
00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:42,160
historical periods,

1098
00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:44,640
but they can all be seen to possess

1099
00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:47,680
certain predictable characteristics and

1100
00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:48,520
mindsets.

1101
00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:52,600
•If we can model our own lives on the

1102
00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:54,720
traits we find in great and successful

1103
00:37:54,720 --> 00:37:55,040
thinkers,

1104
00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:57,720
we too can learn to fulfill more of our

1105
00:37:57,720 --> 00:37:59,840
intellectual and creative potential.

1106
00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:03,720
•The first trait is a lust for

1107
00:38:03,720 --> 00:38:07,040
learning and an insatiable curiosity

1108
00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:08,760
about how the world works,

1109
00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:10,000
and why.

1110
00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,440
This is knowledge and understanding

1111
00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:15,240
pursued for its own sake,

1112
00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:17,720
and not because it indirectly leads to

1113
00:38:17,720 --> 00:38:19,360
another goal like fame or money.

1114
00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,440
Such inspiration and passion gives

1115
00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,000
incredible stamina to any effort.

1116
00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:27,960
•Another trait is diligence,

1117
00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:29,280
patience,

1118
00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:32,400
dedication and self-discipline,

1119
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,480
i.e. everything associated with

1120
00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:36,840
consistent hard work.

1121
00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:40,840
Without detail-oriented and practical

1122
00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:42,360
action taken daily,

1123
00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:44,360
and a willingness to delay

1124
00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:45,120
gratification,

1125
00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:47,800
success will never materialize.

1126
00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:51,080
•Intellectual honesty is also

1127
00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:51,480
important,

1128
00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:54,280
and this includes humility and the

1129
00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:56,400
ability to admit that you don’t know

1130
00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:56,760
something,

1131
00:38:56,760 --> 00:38:58,440
or that you have made a mistake.

1132
00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:01,880
Geniuses know that stubbornness,

1133
00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:02,800
bias,

1134
00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:06,640
expectation and ego can undermine

1135
00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:07,520
genuine learning.

1136
00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:11,920
•Most genius types are usually

1137
00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:14,560
polymaths (skilled in many areas)

1138
00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:17,040
and have broad rather than narrow

1139
00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:17,480
interests.

1140
00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:19,920
They are well-read and make connections

1141
00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:21,160
between all disciplines,

1142
00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:23,920
see relationships and analogies,

1143
00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:26,600
and find inspiration in all fields,

1144
00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:29,320
never limiting themselves to one area.

1145
00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:31,640
•Finally,

1146
00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:35,480
geniuses are usually assumed to be

1147
00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:35,600
novel,

1148
00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:37,320
out-of-the-box thinkers.

1149
00:39:37,320 --> 00:39:40,320
Such people are non-conventional and

1150
00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:43,080
tend to disregard arbitrary rules,

1151
00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:46,560
fashions or unquestioned assumptions

1152
00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:47,120
and habits.

1153
00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:49,200
They are comfortable pushing outside of

1154
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the norms and exploring new

1155
00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:53,640
territory—and this makes them natural

1156
00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:56,240
innovators and trendsetters (as well as

1157
00:39:56,240 --> 00:39:57,400
problem solvers!).

1158
00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:00,160
•We can always be aware of these

1159
00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:02,520
mindsets particular to geniuses and

1160
00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:05,360
deliberately work to cultivate them in

1161
00:40:05,360 --> 00:40:06,160
ourselves,

1162
00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:08,360
in a variety of ways.

1163
00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:12,560
This has been

1164
00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:14,360
Genius Thinking:

1165
00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:18,240
Lessons From History’s Greatest Minds on Innovation,

1166
00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:19,280
Creativity,

1167
00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:26,800
and Intelligence (Mental Models for Better Living Book 6) Written by

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00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:27,520
Peter Hollins

1169
00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:33,840
Narrated by Russell Newton.