Standing on the Shoulders of Giants (Part II)

This post is the second part in a series on where good ideas come from and standing on the shoulders of giants.T

“For everyone of us that succeeds, it's because there's somebody there to show you the way out” Oprah Winfrey

There are many ways that people show others the way, both directly and indirectly. And, many people have allowed others to stand on their shoulders, sometimes even without knowing, simply by teaching others what they know or by documenting their observations, thoughts, insights and discoveries for others to read.

A quick way for us to stand on the shoulders of giants is to examine what’s been done before by reading about and listening to the experiences and lives of those we value and respect. You never know what bright idea you could come across, or what problem could be solved now because the time is right and the technology now exists.

Have you read?

On Natural Selection by Charles Darwin, a Book Review

Charles Robert Darwin, Naturalist Who Presented the Origin of Species Theory

Albert Einstein, Physicist and Scientist, Discovered the Theory of Relativity

Einstein Distraction Index: A Method of Deep Focus

A review of several books on creativity, inventions, discoveries and great thinkers and scientists who have changed the world, books such as

• Discover Your Genius : How to Think Like History's Ten Most Revolutionary Minds
• Aha! 10 Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas
• The Art of Thought 
• The Art of Thinking
• The 100 Greatest Inventions Of All Time
• 100 Discoveries: The Greatest Breakthroughs in History

suggest that great thinkers have certain traits in common.

Leonardo da Vinci, Francis Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Gutenberg, Copernicus, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Marie Curie and Alexander Fleming, a few of the great thinkers who made discoveries, and/or created products that influenced/changed the world, had the unique knack to think and behave a certain way. They have certain traits.

Have you read?

Review of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Marie Curie, Research Scientist, First Woman to Win a Nobel Prize

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Traits of Innovative Thinkers

• Reflect
• Open to experiment
• Keep a record of research
• Steely determination: impossible was not an answer
• Open minded
• Childlike sense of play
• Curious
• Voracious reader
• Read/study broadly
• Observe, detect and collect facts
• Think independently
• Take breaks to re-energize
• Total absorption in subject
• Have imagination
• Have vision
• Didn’t reinvent the wheel – built on present and past knowledge
• Look at the limitations of old inventions and devise a solution
• Modify present technologies for other uses
• Make connections between two different things
• Combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills
• Pay attention to detail
• Give vital ideas the opportunity to take root and grow

Final Thoughts on Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

How many of these traits do you have? And how many could you acquire with concerted effort? If you re-read yesterday’s blog post, you'll notice that some of the above traits are like some activities mentioned by survey respondents.

All of us can generate our own great ideas. Read widely, reflect on life, travel to places that you’ve never been before, eat foods from different cultures, interact with nature, think about problems that need solving and work on ways to solve those problems. Immerse yourself in many activities and create new experiences for yourself. We can learn from the experiences of others, and we can use the words of others as Invisible Mentors to help us make progress in life. We can stand on the shoulders of giants!

What are your thoughts? How can you build on this concept?

Have you read?

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants (Part I)

To Read or Not to Read, Now That’s the Question

The Secrets of Creative Problem Solving

Creative Problem Solving

How to Read to Problem Solve

Do You Have This Critical Workplace Skill?

Next Steps

Wondering what to do next, you can do all of:

1. Buy my new book, Leadership Reading: Spilling the Tea on How Top Leaders Read

2. If you want to Consult 1:1 about Effective Reading Strategies

3. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

4. Join the Art of Learning Membership Site

5. Download Unlock Your Genius Power Reading Tips Sheet

6. Buy me a cup of coffee!

If you want access to my Bookish Notes, please consider joining my membership site, the Art of Learning.

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First Published April 2009