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Lateral Thinking: Breaking Patterns to Find New Solutions
Edward de Bono's method for escaping mental ruts
What if the best solution lies in the direction you would never think to look?
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Our brains are pattern-recognition machines, which makes us efficient but also predictable. Edward de Bono coined "lateral thinking" to describe deliberate strategies that force the mind off its familiar rails.
Unlike vertical thinking—digging deeper into existing logic—lateral thinking moves sideways to find an entirely different entry point. Random stimuli, provocations, and reversals are its main tools.
In a world of AI-generated incremental improvements, lateral thinkers are rare and valuable. The ability to break frames—not just optimize within them—is the skill that creates entirely new markets.
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