New Ideas Come from Noticing
We’ve all heard about the accidental discovery. Someone is working at the edge of an industry, searching very intentionally for one thing, and ends up discovering something else.
Unintentional discoveries are great, but by definition, they’re not repeatable. They’re closer to luck than to skill.
Intentional discoveries, on the other hand, have powered the growth of civilization for as long as we can remember.
People have a problem. They think up new ways to solve it. Eventually, one of the things leads to a discovery that changes the world. Intentional discovery is the predominant way society has progressed.
One less glamorous way to intentionally discover new ideas is through noticing.
The best ideas are uncovered. The fundamental elements of every innovation already exist. We just have to notice them. The more we pay close attention, the more likely we are to discover something new.
You don’t need to do elaborate brainstorms or endless trial and error. You just need to be present and engaged in the moment.
Staying with things longer than most people is what drives insight.
The new comes from noticing.