Jack Uldrich
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Addition by Subtraction: 11 is Greater Than 12

Posted in Beliefs, Business, Creativity, Fuhgetaboutit, Innovation, Less is More, New Cards, One minute unlearning, Opposite May Also be True, Paradox, The Way We See the Problem

“You can get 12 months of work done in 11 months but you can’t get 12 months of work done in 12 months.” Please re-read the above sentence. At first glance, it doesn’t make any sense. Upon reflection, however, you may come to see the wisdom embedded within the statement. If you are constantly working,…


Perspective Matters: Top to Bottom

Posted in Behavior, Illusion, New Cards, Opposite May Also be True, Paradox, Politics

In the picture to the right, count the bars from the top and then count them from the bottom. Did you count ten the first time and seven the second time? I love optical illusions such as this one because they force us to acknowledge that the world isn’t always so black-or-white. Often, our starting…


Resolve to Ask a Different Question This Year

Posted in Ask a New Question, Behavior, Change, Food, Happiness, New Cards, Opposite May Also be True, Paradox, Problems into Opportunities, See What Isn't There, The Way We See the Problem, Unlearning Lesson

One of my favorite authors and thinkers, Daniel Pink, has a wonderful post on New Year’s Resolutions. Instead of making a resolution to do something new this year, Pink suggests making a resolution not to change something. Interestingly, by reversing your thinking and asking a different question, you can get human psychology working for you…


Lower the Bar

Posted in Behavior, Change, General, Less is More, Lessons Unlearned, One minute unlearning, Paradox, Unlearning Lesson

It is conventional wisdom that if you want to achieve your goals you need to “raise the bar” or “shoot for the stars.” This works in some cases but I believe a more effective method is to “lower the bar” and start easy. For example, if you want to start a new exercise regimen try…


Being in the “I Don’t Know.”

Posted in Ambiguity, Beliefs, Change, Curiosity, Future, I Don't Know, One minute unlearning, Paradox, Quotes, The Way We See the Problem, Unlearning Lesson, Wisdom

Everybody likes to be “in the know.” The problem with this is that it’s an impossible goal to achieve because knowledge is being created at an ever accelerating rate. This knowledge creation is a wonderful thing but it also implies that our ignorance is growing even faster (in the sense that it is impossible to…


Being Wrong Feels Like Being Right

Posted in Adult, Beliefs, Books, Failure, Genomics, Intelligence, Kindergarten, Lessons Unlearned, One minute unlearning, Paradox, Psychology, TED

Below is a wonderful talk by Kathryn Schulz, self described "wrongologist" and the author of Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error. I especially liked this statement of hers:"One of the problems with being wrong … is that it feels like being right." This is so true and it is one of the reasons…


I’m Being Followed by a Moon … Illusion

Posted in Assumptions, Education, Example, Illusion, Lessons Unlearned, Metaphor, New Cards, Paradox, See What Isn't There, The Way We See the Problem, Wisdom

By sheer luck, my family and I walked up the steps of the Eiffel Tower on the evening of March 19, 2011 — the night of the “Super Moon.” The view was spectacular as a large red orb arose over the Parisian skyline. If you would have asked me whether the moon was closer to…


A Dilemma: The Problem with Problem-Solvers

Posted in Ambiguity, Business, Creativity, Education, Illusion, Metaphor, New Cards, Opposite May Also be True, Paradox, Quiz, The Way We See the Problem, Wisdom

Please solve this problem: Tell me if the following statement is true or false: "This statement is false." If the statement is false, then it is true. If the statement is true, then it is false. The above example is a well-known paradox but I believe one of the things society, parents, teachers, bosses and…


Non-Pleasure for Pleasure’s Sake

Posted in Analogy, Behavior, Books, Change, Food, Less is More, New Cards, One minute unlearning, Opposite May Also be True, Paradox, Psychology, See What Isn't There, Wisdom

I am currently reading William Irvine's book, A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy and stumbled across this paradoxical — or, at least, counter-intuitive — idea: Denying yourself pleasure can lead to pleasure. How? Consider eating an ice cream cone or, perhaps, a pleasant dessert. Undoubtedly, such an experience would…


Two Words

Posted in Ambiguity, Beliefs, General, Lessons Unlearned, Metaphor, New Cards, One minute unlearning, Paradox, Philosophy, The Way We See the Problem, Visual unlearning, Wisdom

Ying     Yang Black     White Up         Down Right    Left East    West North    South Open     Close Right     Wrong Learn    Unlearn  


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