When people ask for advice or a second opinion, they give clues to the answer they are expecting so they don’t get a truly independent point of view. In a series of experiments, researchers found that people often add their own opinion when they ask for an opinion or advice, even though they are aware…
“Give me a place to stand and a lever long enough and I will move the world”— Greek mathematician Archimedes (attributed) Leverage is a concept well discussed in mechanics and in finance but less has been written about leverage in business. In mechanics, leverage involves a fulcrum (visualize a seesaw or teeter-totter) and we generally…
The raven paradox forces us to question the value of information. In his 1965 essay “Studies in the Logic of Confirmation,” the acclaimed philosopher of science Carl Hempel showcased a fundamental paradox in the scientific method using the simplistic observations of ravens. He started with the statement “all ravens are black.” Expressed in logic form,…
Each year for more than 20 years, TIME has published an article on “the most impactful new products and ideas” which are evaluated based on originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact. A decade ago, I wrote about Time Magazine’s Best of 2014 and noted I was most intrigued by wireless electricity technology. Since then, wireless electricity…
The parable of the Zen farmer reminds us to avoid hasty generalizations. In both life and in business, when an unexpected good or bad event happens, it’s common to quickly assess the situation and then jump to a conclusion. When things go well, we’re overjoyed. But when things don’t turn out as we’d hoped, we’re…
Since my motto is Words Matter, I found myself researching how to write good. OK, that’s intentionally a bit provocative and some background is warranted. A friend used the phrase “Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement” so I obviously wanted to know where it originated. It’s generally attributed to Frank L. Visco from…
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. This well-known quote, often attributed to Albert Einstein, cautions us from repeating ineffective actions or continue down paths likely to lead to disappointing outcomes. Only, Albert Einstein never said it. The Ultimate Quotable Einstein, the self-described ‘most…
Have you ever noticed there’s conflicting sayings for every situation and every point of view? When someone you care about goes on a long trip, a friend might comfort you by saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”. On the other hand, when you end a relationship with a toxic partner, the same friend might…
People drink more wine when larger wineglasses are used. In fact, research finds wine sales increase almost 10% with larger glasses. It’s well known larger plates increase food consumption. Plate sizes have nearly doubled over the past 100 years, likely contributing to the prevalence of obesity. An even more pronounced effect has happened to stemware:…
In their book Thanks for the Feedback, Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen suggest there are three kinds of feedback: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation. A quick summary of each: One of the key insights in the book is we should be careful about providing multiple kinds of feedback at the same time, as the person receiving them might be…