The Difference Between Breakthrough Thinkers and the Rest of Us

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We all run into obstacles.

Maybe it’s a business change that we don’t like; a traffic jam when we’re already late; a system or process that feels overly cumbersome. But we all run into obstacles.

And what do we do when that happens? What do we do when we run into that obstacle?

We whine. Grumble. Curse. Complain. Gripe about it to others.

And that’s where most of us stop.

In other words, the entire process for most of us looks like this:

  1. Run into obstacle.
  2. Complain about it.

That’s most of us. But it’s not the breakthrough thinker. And when I say “breakthrough thinker,” think:

The process for breakthrough thinkers is exactly the same as the process for the rest of us. Except that the breakthrough thinkers take one more step.

The process for breakthrough thinkers is exactly the same as the process for the rest of us. Except that the breakthrough thinkers take one more step. Share on X

Breakthrough thinkers ask, “How can this be better?”

“How can this be better?”

That’s a very powerful question. It’s the question that has, in one way or another, driven virtually every breakthrough idea that has ever changed a company, an industry, or the world.

So, the process for the breakthrough thinker looks like this:

  1. Run into obstacle.
  2. Complain about it.
  3. Ask, “How can this be better?”

And did you notice that it’s not that big a leap between steps 2 and 3? It doesn’t take a lot of heavy lifting. You can do it in your pajamas.

It just has to become a habit.

See, the breakthrough thinkers ask this question automatically. It’s become a part of their DNA. They see a problem, and they immediately think, “How can I fix it?”

The Difference Between Breakthrough Thinkers and the Rest of Us Share on X

We all run into obstacles. You’ll probably run into one today — or if not today, certainly this week. And when you do, whine about it for a little bit. Grumble about it. Complain about it to your friends.

And after you’re through with all of that, as yourself, “How can this be better?”

Who knows? You may end up changing the world.

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About the Author:

29-time Emmy Award winner and Hall of Fame keynote speaker Bill Stainton, CSP is an expert on Innovation, Creativity, and Breakthrough Thinking. He helps leaders and their teams come up with innovative solutions — on demand — to their most challenging problems.
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