Don't face complex issues head-on; first understand simple ideas deeply. Clear the clutter and expose what's really important. Be brutally honest about what you know and don't know.Then see what's missing, identify the gaps, and fill them in. Let go of bias, prejudice, and preconceived notions. Rock-solid understanding is the foundation for success.

Understand Deeply

Fail to succeed. Intentionally get it wrong to inevitably get it even more right. Mistakes are great teachers -they highlight unforeseen opportunities and holes in your understanding. They also show you which way to turn next, and they ignite your imagination.

Make Mistakes

"﻿﻿I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."

Look back to see where ideas came from and then look ahead to discover where those ideas may lead. A new idea is a beginning, not an end. Ideas are rare – milk them. Following the consequences of small ideas can result in big payoffs.

Follow the Flow of Ideas

In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.

﻿﻿“One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.”

﻿“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

Never pretend to know more than you do. Don’t build on ambiguity and ignorance. When you don’t know something, admit it as quickly as possible and immediately take action — ask a question.Ideas are in the air - the right questions will bring them out and help you see connections that otherwise would have been invisible.

Raise Questions

﻿Sir Isaac Newton was asked how he discovered the law of gravity. He replied,"By thinking about it all the time."

You can always improve, grow, and extract more out of your education, yourself, and the way you live your life.Change is the universal constant that allows you to get the most out of living and learning.

Change

﻿"﻿We spend the first year of a child's life teaching it to walk and talk and the rest of its life to shut up and sit down. There's something wrong there."

Offers real-life stories, items, and methods that allow for a deeper understanding of any issue, provide the power to use failure as a step toward success, and develop a habit of creating probing questions.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

books

Books

Simple but powerful strategies for increasing your success by improving your thinking The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking presents practical, lively, and inspiring ways for you to become more successful through better thinking. The idea is simple: You can learn how to think far better by adopting specific strategies. Brilliant people aren't a special breed—they just use their minds differently. By using the straightforward and thought-provoking techniques in The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking, you will regularly find imaginative solutions to difficult challenges, and you will discover new ways of looking at your world and yourself—revealing previously hidden opportunities. The book offers real-life stories, explicit action items, and concrete methods that allow you to attain a deeper understanding of any issue, exploit the power of failure as a step toward success, develop a habit of creating probing questions, see the world of ideas as an ever-flowing stream of thought, and embrace the uplifting reality that we are all capable of change. No matter who you are, the practical mind-sets introduced in the book will empower you to realize any goal in a more creative, intelligent, and effective manner. Filled with engaging examples that unlock truths about thinking in every walk of life, The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking is written for all who want to reach their fullest potential—including students, parents, teachers, businesspeople, professionals, athletes, artists, leaders, and lifelong learners. Whenever you are stuck, need a new idea, or want to learn and grow, The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking will inspire and guide you on your way.

ERIC HOFFER

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