“We must unlearn the constellation to see the stars.” –Jack Gilbert from the poem “Tear it Down” Question #23: In 2003, what money-losing product far exceeded its sales projections for the year in spite of the fact that manufacturer made no material upgrades to the product and spent less money on advertising? The answer is…

“I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.” –John Cage Question #7: Write the letter “E” on your forehead. (Go ahead, I’ll wait. You may also just trace the letter on your forehead if that’s more comfortable for you). Did you write the letter in a self-oriented…

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” –Marcel Proust Question #22: There is a small town that has only one street. The street runs in an east-west direction and is exactly one mile in length. The town council recently granted liquor licenses to two taverns with…

The very first post I ever wrote on my other blog (www.schoolofunlearning.com) explained the story of how I first came to appreciate the importance of unlearning. The piece (No Strings Attached) recounted the story of how I had tied my shoes “bunny ear style” for 37 years before I finally unlearned that habit and relearned…

“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” –Voltaire Question #21: How much of the earth is water? Did you say somewhere between two-thirds and 75 percent? If so, you are incorrect. As John Lloyd and John Mitchinson explain in their delightful book, The Book of Ignorance, “Seven-tenths of the earth’s surface is…

“The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above the water.” –Sigmund Freud Question #20: According to the latest research, IQ accounts for what portion of career success? e. 50 to 60 percent f. 25 to 49 percent g. 23 to 34 percent h. 11 to 22 percent The answer…

By Jack Uldrich & Rick Smyre On August 5, 1949 Wag Dodge and a team of fire-fighters were air dropped into Mann Gulch in Montana to battle a raging fire. The conditions were hot and dry. As evening approached, the fire changed directions and hot embers flew over the heads of the crew and ignited…

“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” –Douglas Adams Question #19: Which is the more likely scenario? A) Roger seemed happily married. He killed his wife. B) Roger seemed happily married. He killed his wife…

“Education is one of the few things a person is willing to pay for and not get.” –William Lowe Bryant Question #18: This is another two part question: a) does $50 always equal $50; and b) which amount of money would you prefer to earn over a three year period $110,000 or $150,000? While it is…

 “Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is – oh dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate.” –Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland  Question #17: Which is greater: 1 or 2? What about 100 or 10,000? The correct answer is that it…