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valstu | 3 years ago
One of the surest ways to come up with new ideas is to pay attention to what doesn't fit in. We're used to seeing things in a certain way, and often times it's the things that don't quite fit into our preconceived notions that can provide the best insights. The most obvious place to look for these anomalies is at the frontiers of knowledge.
Knowledge grows like a fractal; from a distance its edges may appear smooth, but when you get closer you begin to see the jagged gaps and spaces. These gaps can be surprisingly obvious; it can seem strange that no one has thought to ask a certain question or investigate a certain problem. When you explore them, you can often discover entirely new areas of knowledge that have been previously untouched.
That's why it's useful to investigate these gaps in knowledge. It may feel uncomfortable at first; we don't always like to challenge our preconceptions and explore things beyond our comfort zone. But often times this can be the source of some of our best ideas.
You don't even have to look far for these anomalies; they can be found in everyday life. Much of stand-up comedy is based on this, by finding the oddities and quirks about our daily lives that we normally take for granted.
So don't be afraid to take a closer look at what seems strange or missing or broken. It could lead you to unexpected discovery and perhaps even uncover some of your best ideas. This may be challenging and uncomfortable, but it's often worth it.
sargstuff|3 years ago