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FacebookMyths of Innovation: Brilliant Ideas Come From Constant Reflection, Not Random Chance
December 15th, 2007 | Posted in Uncategorized 6 Comments »
After reading Scott Berkun’s essay on the how to be a genius, I listened to some of his podcasts too. One myth is that geniuses get their ideas almost out of the sky — Newton is watching an apple fall from the tree when he suddenly discovers gravity. Archimedes is taking a bath when he realizes the physics of buoyancy. Here’s an excerpt of this Archimedes myth from Wikipedia:
According to Vitruvius, a new crown in the shape of a laurel wreath had been made for King Hiero II, and Archimedes was asked to determine whether it was of solid gold, or whether silver had been added by a dishonest goldsmith.[11] Archimedes had to solve the problem without damaging the crown, so he could not melt it down in order to measure its density as a cube, which would have been the simplest solution.
While taking a bath, he noticed that the level of the water rose as he got in. He realized that this effect could be used to determine the volume of the crown, and therefore its density after weighing it. The density of the crown would be lower if cheaper and less dense metals had been added. He then took to the streets naked, so excited by his discovery that he had forgotten to dress, crying “Eureka!” “I have found it!” (Greek: “εύρηκα!”)[12]
The story about the golden crown does not appear in the known works of Archimedes, but in his treatise On Floating Bodies he gives the principle known in hydrostatics as Archimedes’ Principle. This states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.[13]
Berkun says we tend to mythologize geniuses because we need the story, and he references Joseph Campbell’s myth of the hero. Most of these stories turn out to be factually false. Geniuses don’t just pull ideas out of the sky with mere luck. They spend their lifetimes reflecting and thinking and pondering about these topics. Whether they do it in a bath tub or while eating in an apple orchard, the brilliance doesn’t come from chance. It is the result of a life immersed in thought and experiment.
Recommended Scott Berkun Podcasts
Check out these podcasts on Berkun’s site:
- The engaging brand, with Anna Farmery (40 minutes, in two 20 minute mp3 segments)
- Interview w/ Matt Mullenweg, founder of Wordpress.com, about Myths of Innovation (15 minute mp3).
- IT Conversations about Myths of Innovation and software development (60 minute mp3)
- What to do when things go wrong, at BayCHI, San Jose CA. 90 minute mp3
- Digital web magazine, 5 questions w/Scott Berkun
Tags: Archimedes, creative innovation, genius, innovation, Newton, science, Scott Berkun, What I'm Reading
I’m a tech writer, musician and songwriter, with experience writing news, essays, music reviews, musician profiles and other kinds of writing, including poetry.
From my own experience with innovation and creativity, the “Eureka!” moment often comes after reflection on a problem, creating a solution to fit a need. Grinding mentally, trying to force a solution never works. Frustration and force are enemies of creativity.
It usually comes when I’m in a reflective, rather than agitated, concentrated or busy state of mind. I do a lot of what used to be called a “brown study” (I have no idea where that term originated)…staring into space, floating and light mentally…wondering…putting ideas together in a light way.
It feels like floating mentally. There is no easy way to describe this state. If you meditate, or take naps, the state is similar. It’s a kind of “background downloading” of ideas that can be very emotionally exciting. It’s almost as if my soul is downloading concepts and my forebrain is translating it into words, images or sounds.
This kind of floating into mental space was frowned upon in school, maybe because it takes away from the lesson. I think it should be encouraged, because creativity is one of the driving forces for innovation and progress in society.
Sometimes ideas come when I’m very excited, like while listening to songs on the radio. Suddenly a riff or a rhythm sparks ideas for alternate lyrics, especially when I write parody songs. I feel a lot of joy and excitement around this kind of creativity–an adrenaline rush of a very fun, energizing feeling.
I write parody lyrics often while drinking a few beers and horsing around with my musician friend, Billy. He’s in his early 60s, with a Woody Allen sort of sensibility. He’ll start playing a song, like a traditional Christmas song, I get bored with the standard lyrics and begin making up my own–usually involving flatulence, anatomy and other subjects inappropriate for the song. My goal here is always to make myself and others laugh, but it arises from my own dissatisfaction with the mundane character of the lyrics.
Tim, thanks for sharing the details of your creative process. I also find that good ideas come unexpectedly. (By the way, do you have a blog where you write all of these good ideas down?)
I think that even when our conscious brain focuses on other things, the unconscious continues working in the background. When it finds the answer, it sends it to the conscious (perhaps).
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