If you fall in love with an idea, you won't see the merits of alternative approaches-and will probably miss an opportunity or two. One of life's great pleasures is letting go of a previously cherished idea. Then you're free to look for new ones. What part of your idea are you in love with? What would happen if you kissed it goodbye?
Roger von OechBy the time the average person finishes college, he or she will have taken over 2,600 tests, quizzes, and exams. The right answer approach becomes deeply ingrained in our thinking. This may be fine for some mathematical problems where there is in fact only one right answer. The difficulty is that most of life isnโt this way. Life is ambiguous; there are many right answers- all depending on what youโre looking for. But if you think there is only one right answer, then youโll stop looking as soon as you find one.
Roger von OechHere's my advice: Go ahead and be whacky. Get into a crazy frame of mind and ask what's funny about what you're doing.
Roger von OechIt's easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago, but will soon be out-of-date.
Roger von Oech