Dr. Leon Eisen on Ditching Linear Thinking and Embracing Quantum Leadership

Thomas Helfrich

✂️Cut The Tie to Everything Holding You Back✂️ Join the "Cut The Tie" Entrepreneur Community | Host Top 5% Global "Never Been Promoted" Podcast | Author "Cut The Tie" | 1 Million+ YouTube Subscribers

Published Oct 14, 2024

You ever get that feeling where you just know there's something bigger holding you back, but you can't quite put your finger on it? I think we’ve all been there, whether in life or in business. That’s exactly the kind of breakthrough thinking Leon Eisen, PhD , brings to the table. Dr. Eisen is not your average entrepreneur or investor. He’s someone who takes “thinking differently” to a whole new level. As a quantum physicist, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and the creator of Quantum Business Thinking, he’s built a fascinating approach to success that challenges the status quo.

In our conversation, I found myself drawn to the way he views the world—and more importantly—how he views business. If you’re stuck in the same patterns, facing constant rejection, or struggling to think outside the box, this conversation will hit home.

Let’s dive into five key lessons from Dr. Eisen that just might change how you think about your entrepreneurial journey.

1. Nonlinear Thinking: It’s Time to Stop Playing by the Rules

Most of us approach business in a straight line: we start here, we want to get there, and we try to map the shortest path. But according to Dr. Eisen, that’s not how the most successful ideas are born. He explains it using quantum physics principles: “If you think linearly, you’re operating in the low-energy way, which often leads to mediocrity. Quantum mechanics teaches us that success often comes from nonlinear thinking—taking unexpected, innovative steps.”

This isn’t just theoretical. Dr. Eisen's entire career reflects this mindset. He raised his first million dollars during the middle of a financial crisis when everyone around him told him it was impossible. Why? Because he wasn’t focused on the obstacles or what made sense on paper. He was thinking beyond the typical path, finding opportunities in the chaos. That’s the essence of nonlinear thinking, and if you want to break free from average results, it’s time to start thinking like that too.

2. Adaptability is Key: Don’t Get Stuck in Your Old Ways

One of the biggest takeaways from our chat was the danger of "fixedness." Dr. Eisen was clear on this point: “Fixedness is the worst thing an entrepreneur can have. It means you’re stuck in your ideas, your experience, and you can’t adapt.” Whether you’re 25 or 45, this mindset can kill your business.

It’s a hard truth to swallow. The more we succeed, the more we tend to rely on what worked before. But that’s exactly when things start to fall apart. Dr. Eisen learned this lesson the hard way when transitioning from being an entrepreneur to a venture capitalist. Moving from one role to another, he had to completely shift his thinking. Entrepreneurs who can’t adapt to new situations and challenges are setting themselves up for failure. The best in the game, according to Dr. Eisen, are the ones who stay flexible and open to change.

3. Rejection is Fuel: Learn From Every ‘No’

I asked Dr. Eisen about the hardest challenge he faced when starting his first company. His response was all too relatable: rejection. “Hundreds of times I got rejected. But each time, I used that as fuel. I decided to learn more, double down, and refine what I was doing.”

How many of us hear “no” and start questioning everything? We lose confidence, we start to play it safe. But what if, instead, you used every rejection as an opportunity to improve? In Dr. Eisen’s case, those rejections helped him secure funding and launch one of the first FDA-cleared wearable medical devices in the world. Every ‘no’ is just a step closer to a ‘yes’—if you’re willing to use it wisely.

4. Quantum Business Thinking: A New Approach to Leadership

Here’s where things get really interesting. Dr. Eisen’s concept of Quantum Business Thinking is about applying the principles of quantum mechanics to leadership and decision-making. It sounds complicated, but he breaks it down simply: “Conventional thinking is about outcomes and points. Quantum thinking is about directions and layers.”

So, what does that mean in practice? It’s about seeing multiple possibilities and not getting stuck on one path. For leaders, this means being open to opposite opinions, embracing contradictions, and understanding that there’s often no one “truth”—only perspectives. Think about how this applies to the day-to-day challenges in business. Are you rigid in your approach? Or are you willing to adapt, see from different angles, and accept that there might be more than one solution?

5. Founder vs. Idea: It’s About the Person, Not the Pitch

One of the most surprising insights Dr. Eisen shared was his view on what really makes a business succeed. It’s not the idea; it’s the founder. “If you have an amazing idea, but the founder is rigid, it won’t work. But if you have a good idea and a flexible, open-minded founder, that’s a winning combination.”

In his role as a venture capitalist, Dr. Eisen has seen it all. He shared that, for him, the split is 80/20—80% of his decision to invest is based on the founder, and only 20% is based on the idea. That’s a powerful reminder for anyone out there grinding away on the next big thing. Investors aren’t just betting on your concept—they’re betting on you. So, if you’re not constantly growing, adapting, and showing that you can lead, even the best ideas will fall flat.

Conclusion: Where Do You Go From Here?

This conversation with Dr. Eisen wasn’t just a deep dive into quantum physics applied to business; it was a masterclass in how to think and act as an entrepreneur. His journey is full of lessons that can inspire anyone looking to make a real impact. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from talking to him, it’s this: success doesn’t come from playing by the rules. It comes from breaking them, from thinking differently, and from being willing to adapt when the world shifts around you.

Check out the full episode with Dr. Leon Eisen HERE! This is one conversation you don’t want to miss.