How to Think?
(Как правильно думать?)

What's the best way to think? What's the best way to solve problems? A study was done to see if geniuses shared any characteristics or habits. Was there something they had in common with each other that wasn't common in the general population? One of the things the researchers found was that geniuses all used a methodical, orderly approach when they tried to solve a problem. The following method is just such an orderly approach to problem solving. Follow these three steps:

1. Define the problem well. Be specific. Take your time on this. Come up lots of possible ways to define it and then select and refine the best one. The defining of the problem should take up a good portion of time. Do this task on paper. Do all your thinking on paper.

2. Come up with possible solutions. The task of thinking consists of asking a good question, writing it at the top of a piece of paper and then sitting there trying to think of answers to that question, and every time you think of another answer, write it down and keep thinking.

Force yourself to come up with a set amount. Set a goal to come up with 100 ideas. Sit and think and write down your ideas. Go on about your day. Tomorrow, sit and think some more.

Thinking is hard work. Most people don't do much thinking, but that is the MOST-needed work right now. Don't think of problem-solving as something you'll do in a half-hour. One of the best ways to get great ideas is to stick with the same problem for many weeks. Keep turning your mind to the task and you'll find new sources of genius within yourself.

After the discipline of sitting and trying to come up with solutions, your mind starts getting accustomed to the purpose and starts working on the problem on its own. Ideas will come to you in the night, while idly daydreaming, while taking a shower, while driving, because you have continued asking your mind for possible solutions.

3. Select the best ideas. Go through your list and organize them. Put them in order from the very best one down to the worst one. As you do this, ideas will mix and ferment and new combinations will come to mind. Add those to your list and keep arranging their order. Take your very best ones and put them into action. Or share the ideas with people who can utilize them.

To put an idea into action, you need a plan. Go through the same sequence to make a plan of action. What do you need to do? Make a list of all the tasks that need to be done to bring your idea into existence. Keep thinking. Then put those tasks in order. What needs to be done first? What would be second, and so on. Then start in on the first item on your list. Get into action.

If you thought of many solutions and want to narrow down your choices, add parameters.

Using this method, your action is not random or desperate. It is planned, methodical, and effective.