We all believe that “knowledge is power.” But the opposite – anti-knowledge – can be even more powerful.
That’s the counterintuitive force of the outsider’s perspective. While we typically celebrate domain expertise, this issue explores how a music producer with “no technical ability” has won nine Grammys, why non-experts can drive more innovation than industry specialists, and how thinking like a six-year-old might solve your biggest business challenges.
Research reveals a surprising truth: deep domain expertise often causes “functional fixedness”—the inability to see beyond established paradigms. The very knowledge that makes us experts can become the prison that limits our thinking.
This edition of Find A Way Weekly unpacks the outsider’s advantage and provides practical techniques for breaking free from your industry’s echo chamber. You’ll discover how changing your lens and borrowing perspectives from unlikely sources can unlock bold, fresh ideas when conventional approaches fail.
Let’s explore how creative breakthroughs come not from knowing more, but from seeing differently.
Your industry conference doesn't need another industry expert.
Your pharmaceutical industry conference doesn’t need another pharmaceutical industry speaker.
Counterintuitive? Perhaps.
But, research demonstrates that domain expertise comes with a significant downside. The deeper someone’s expertise, the harder it becomes to question fundamental assumptions or imagine alternatives to the status quo.
Think of this as the insider’s trap.
A groundbreaking study in the Journal of Creative Behavior found teams with creativity training (not domain expertise) dramatically outperformed those without it—generating twice as many ideas and producing more innovative solutions regardless of the specific problem domain.
This highlights the outsider’s advantage. Free from industry constraints, outsiders discover unconventional ideas and introduce provocations that challenge assumptions.
Creativity > Technical Skills: The Curious Story of Rick Rubin
The most successful music producer might be the least qualified on paper. I was floored when I read that nine-time Grammy winner Rick Rubin can’t play an instrument or operate a mixing board.
The legendary producer behind Johnny Cash, Metallica, and Red Hot Chili Peppers openly admits: “I have no technical ability, and I know nothing about music.” Yet somehow, he’s crafted some of the most iconic albums of our time.
His secret? “The confidence that I have in my taste, and my ability to express what I feel.” Rubin reminds us that technical proficiency often takes a backseat to a fresh perspective.
His story perfectly exemplifies the outsider’s advantage we so rarely leverage. By approaching challenges without the constraints of industry dogma, we often discover breakthrough solutions that experts miss.
Rubin creates space for creativity through meditation, clearing distractions to make “a direct connection to the creative force.” Most importantly, he trusts his instincts rather than chasing market trends.
Perhaps our greatest contributions don’t require becoming technical experts, but rather honing our unique perspective and having the courage to share it.
Innovation Technique: The Different Lens
We all want breakthrough ideas. Yet we keep approaching problems with the same perspective.
The solution? An ideation technique called “The Different Lens.” Instead of asking “What would another realtor do?” ask “How would a Hollywood agent approach this?” or “What would a hotel manager suggest?” or “How would a marine biologist attack this problem?”
This perspective-shifting exercise leverages the power of cognitive distance—the mental space between your domain and a completely unrelated one—where unexpected connections thrive. When we borrow thinking patterns from different fields, we bypass the blind spots that come with expertise.
The most intriguing aspect is how this technique provides psychological safety for risk-taking. That outlandish suggestion didn’t come from you—it came from a six-year-old or Attila the Hun or George Jetson.
Creative breakthroughs rarely emerge from deeper immersion in what we already know. They come from deliberately stepping outside our existing perspectives, seeing familiar challenges through unfamiliar eyes.
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
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