Clarity vs. Truth: Problem-solving Implications
We often assume two words have the same meaning. If true, there would be no need for the two separate words. Distinguishing... Read More
Positive Thinking as Myth
Posted on19 Sep 2011
Tagswho we think we are, attitude, pessimism, who we are, thinking process, subconscious, Scott O. Lilienfeld, Scientific American, problem solving, positive thinking, positive, Pollyannaism, optimism, negative thinking, motivation, Influence, Hal Arkowitz, business, biotechnology, biology
Comments2
I’ve seen positive thinking do much harm to some folks; if they can’t keep their smiley face on, they feel they’re failing.... Read More
Inverted Problem-solving Technique
Posted on15 Sep 2011
Comments0
The inverted problem-solving technique (IPT) involves looking at the opposing aspects of a problem. To see IPT’s value it helps to write... Read More
Cooperation vs. Self-interest: Which Reigns Supreme?
Posted on12 Sep 2011
Tagsbusiness, cooperation, Cooperation vs Self-interest Series, Elizabeth Kolbert, Harvard Business Review, intelligence, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Michael Tomasello, problem solving, self-interest, team intelligence, The New Yorker, Yochai Benkler
Comments5
Recently, Harvard Business Review focused its July-August 2011 issue on collaboration. It connected so well and deeply with my own experiences that... Read More
Who’s the Better Problem Solver?
Person A has solved a hundred problems while Person B has only solved five. Who’s the better problem solver? The answer is... Read More
When Does Optimism Become Pollyannaism?
In “Before You Make That Big Decision,” which appeared in the June 2011 Harvard Business Review, Daniel Kahneman, Dan Lovallo and Olivier... Read More
Change Taste without Changing Anything about the Food
Posted on18 Jul 2011
Tagsambiance, brain, cooking, feelings, food, Influence, John Seabrook, message, packaging, people, PepsiCo, presentation, price, problem solving, restaurant, Snacks For A Fat Planet, taste, The New Yorker, utensils
Comments0
This post is similar to my previous post about changing the message by how people feel about the messenger. In the case... Read More
Placebo Service: Creating Options
Posted on07 Jul 2011
TagsHarvard Business Review, Influence, intuition, Michael I. Norton, objective, options, people, problem solving, quality service, Ryan W. Buell, feelings, approaches, comedians, customer service, customers, emotions, entertainment
Comments6
Intuitive approaches, ones that influence people on an emotional, often unconscious level create additional options for almost any problem, especially if they... Read More
Kitchens & A Lesson in Problem Solving
Posted on23 Jun 2011
Tagsfeelings, cooking, convenience food, business planning, business, advertising, food, The Joy of Not Cooking, The Atlantic, retailing, problem solving, merchandising, Megan McArdle, marketing, kitchen
Comments0
High-end retailers are expecting us to spend more money on our kitchens even though we are spending less time in them. Why?... Read More
Osama bin Laden’s Death: Intuitive Problem-solving Lesson
Posted on05 May 2011
TagsAl-Qaida, technology, problem solving, PBS NewsHour, Osama bin Laden, military, logic, intuition, intelligence, humans, emotions, deviation, organizational culture, consistency
Comments0
After watching PBS NewsHour’s analysis, “What’s Next for U.S. Military in Fight Against Al-Qaida?” which aired on Monday, May 2, 2011, I... Read More
