The problem with The Thinker, Rodin’s bronze masterpiece, is that we don’t know what the guy is thinking about. A new business plan? Lost love? What to buy at the grocery store? Who knows?

The same with Winnie the Pooh, the most famous stuffed bear in children’s literature. When Pooh goes off into the 100-Acre Wood to “think, think, think,” we have no clue as to what all that thinking is about. Of course, neither does Pooh, but his head is filled with fluff so his mental shortcomings can be forgiven.

Since neither Rodin’s sculpture nor Winnie the Pooh are involved in the jan/san business, we can assume they weren’t pondering supply-chain relationships, inventory management problems, or the impact of new federal regulations on their bottom line. They both were, however, doing something we should all be doing more of to improve our businesses: taking the time to think.

Thinking is decidedly low-tech. You don’t need a handheld device, a cell phone or a laptop computer. Yes, technology is a wonderful thing. It makes our jobs and our lives easier. But sometimes it simply gets in the way. The best thinking occurs when all things high-tech are removed.

Here are some ideas I bet you wish you had thought of: viral marketing, Post-It Notes, the theory of relativity. We all want to come up with novel and innovative ideas. And even if they aren’t monumental enough to change the world, it would still be nice if they had some impact at the office.

All the studies of genius and creativity show that there is a pattern for grand ideas. Gathering information — reading, going to meetings, listening to people — leads people to come up with tons of ideas, which usually surface when they are alone with their thoughts.

“The difficult thing is that people believe that creativity is a personality trait of the best people in the company,” Henk Speijer, a senior consultant with Phillips Electronics told the Wall Street Journal. “But if you apply the right methods you generate many, many useful ideas.”

Calisthenics For The Mind
Grand thinking requires space, flexibility, and time — all things that are tough to come by. But these three things are even more difficult to attain if you never leave the office. Thinking requires quiet, uninterrupted time alone and complete inactivity (or a low-stress activity). Eve Bunting, a prominent author of children’s books, once said she got most of her book ideas while she was swimming laps in a pool. A former boss of mine told me the main reason he enjoyed his morning shower was not to be clean, but to have time to think.

The problem is most of us work hard to get ahead. That’s commendable. But in reality, the way to succeed is to work hard and produce good ideas. You can struggle with sloppy inventory management, or you can take time to think of a new system that will entirely revamp the way you approach it. And even if sloppy inventory management isn’t your problem, chances are there is something in your business that runs you ragged and costs you money.

The beginning of the year gives us an opportunity to start fresh. Take this opportunity to create a new routine that allows for thinking time. And not just 10 minutes — it takes at least that long just to decompress and empty your mind of the pressures caused by your responsibilities.

Thinking time is not “anytime a meeting is canceled” or “sometime over the weekend.” The first relinquishes control; the second allows for procrastination. Put it in your Palm Pilot®, or write it on your wall calendar in red felt-tip pen if you have to, so you can’t forget or erase it. It’s that important.

So, as the year gets off to a new start, you should, too. Do more thinking — and make it a habit. At the very least, it’s something to think about.

E-mail questions or comments about this article.




POSTED ON: 1/1/2003