Looking for Genius in All the Right Places

Greetings and welcome to the tenth edition of my new newsletter. In each issue I hope to share a brief article about a stranger, a place, and idea, or all three at the forefront of innovation. I will also share a book worth reading and a quote to get you thinking about the real keys to innovation and business success.

This newsletter is meant to be a short read – a quick burst of ideas and insights to get you and your colleagues to stretch your thinking and action.

I like to think that I can learn something important from everyone I meet. My frustration is not having the chance to meet more people. I simply must be humble, curious, respectful, and open-minded. But what can I learn from a taxi driver racing through the crowded streets of the capital of India? A lot, it turns out if we are willing to pay attention and ask a few questions.

A few years ago, as I was racing to get to a meeting in Delhi, I jumped into the first taxi I could find. Grateful to find a cab, I did not notice that the car I found had no side mirrors and no rearview mirror. But as soon as we got into traffic and Ashok, my overly enthusiastic driver, began hurtling toward my destination across town, the lack of these automotive appendages became abundantly clear.

“What’s the story with your mirrors (or lack thereof)?” I asked, equally curious and petrified.

“Oh, those…” he replied pointing to where they could have been.

“Exactly.”

“Unnecessary,” he replied with a slightly alarming sense of confidence and assurance.

“And,” he continued, “having mirrors adds to congestion in a city as congested as Delhi.”

Both fascinating answers.

“Tell me more, “ I inquired.

“I am trying to get you and all of my customers to their destinations as fast as possible,” he replied. “That way you are on time, which is not so common here in Delhi. And I make more money by being faster and getting more fares. So I need to be the first person to get to and through every intersection and circle along the way. That means always looking ahead! There’s no time to look behind me. And besides, the cars behind me and on the sides of me are of little or no consequence! It is all about being faster and a bit more courageous!”

‘Somewhat convincing,’ I thought to myself and surprisingly logical by his definition of logic.

“But less congestion?” I wondered.

“Definitely. If everyone did away with their side mirrors we could get another lane of traffic on the busiest roads.”

 I often think about Ashok and this 25-minute journey. And while I have never thought of the benefit of having a taxi driver who is courageous, I have thought about the importance of always looking ahead as a key to our success. Looking ahead suggests that at least some of the ideas of the past are open for change or at least reinterpretation. Looking ahead also suggests that we have our feet flexibly planted in the future even while they are firmly planted in the present. Looking forward means have a clear sense of purpose, even if that purpose is simply to get someone to their destination as quickly (and hopefully safely) as possible. Looking ahead is also just the right starting point for prospering in a world filled with change that requires us to be creative, focused, and fast. 

A Book Worth Reading…

Looking to make even better decisions in a fast-changing world. If so, Keith Cunningham’s book “The Road Less Stupid” might be a useful read. It’s all about being more successful in business by creating “thinking time” that keeps you from making emotional decisions or gravitating to the most obvious and best idea.

A Quote Worth Thinking About…

A quote from William James…

“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.”

And to dare ourselves to think about things we might have overlooked!