When striving for a major goal, such as building a business, transforming your health, or deepening a relationship, consider an “Isolate and Attack” framework:
- Narrow your focus: Concentrate on one variable (e.g., customer service with a highly specific customer segment, your hydration, being a better listener).
- Do the reps: High-frequency practice drills on a specific skill.
- Stack progress: Layer in one newly improved area on top of another, stitching together smaller wins into bigger victories.
Avoid overwhelm by portioning big ambitions into bite-sized actions.
Check out this week’s video for examples and suggestions…
Unconventional.
When a town near St. Louis banned nudity except for “artistic purposes,” most strip joints closed. One owner, however, required patrons to buy sketch pads and colored pencils, encouraging artistic expression throughout their visit. This creative twist allowed the club to thrive while others shut down.
Similarly, when California banned indoor smoking, the Cigar Bar and Grill in San Francisco found an ingenious workaround. The law exempted 100% owner-operated establishments. By issuing each employee a tiny amount of non-voting stock, the bar transformed its staff into “owners,” allowing it to remain open and prosper.
The concept of inventive thinking extends far beyond legal loopholes, with unconventional ideas often saving the day.
What challenges are you facing right now that could use an unorthodox approach?
All thumbs.
Ten toes, ten fingers. Standard issue. But could that be a limiting belief?
Enter Professor Tamar Makin at the University of Cambridge. Makin is rethinking the human hand with her invention, The Third Thumb. The creation is a motorized prosthetic, controlled by pressure sensors under the big toes, that enhances the wearer’s range of movement and grasping ability, allowing for tasks previously impossible with one hand.
The Third Thumb redefines human capability and sets a new standard in prosthetics. At its core is the willingness to challenge assumptions (humans have only one thumb per hand) and reimagine possibilities.
What assumptions are you holding onto that might be challenged and then reimagined?
Right-Brain Olympics, anyone?
Rocket science and brain surgery, often considered the most difficult and highly respected of all endeavors, are praised for their precision and logical thinking—the Left-Brain Olympics.
But why don’t we value creative, Right-Brain practices equally? You never hear, “You don’t have to be a film producer to do that!”
Is repetitive, linear work really harder and more important than abstract, imaginative pursuits?
Consider the microchip, penicillin, and the combustion engine – creative inventions with immense impact. The biggest breakthroughs come to life with non-linear inventiveness, not just maniacal precision. Progress requires both analytical and imaginative thought, so let’s celebrate creativity as much as precision.
Next time someone says, “This isn’t brain surgery,” consider replying, “It isn’t painting a masterpiece with oil on canvas either!”
To your creative success…
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About Josh
Josh Linkner is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, professional jazz guitarist, and a globally recognized innovation expert. To learn more or to explore a collaboration, visit JoshLinkner.com
