BOLD THINKERS CHANGE THE WORLD (#2)

Yesterday a bold thinker (Richard Branson) went into space. And next week another bold thinker (Elon Musk) will do the same. They are thinkers who are changing the word. So first and foremost, the call to think boldly is a call to think optimistically and strategically with a view of changing the world for the better. Bold thinkers boldly embrace, explore, define, and work on solving the problems that stop us from being fully alive/fully human— the domain of inner space.

If we ask, “What feeds wimpy and fearful thinking?” The answer is—dangers, risks, challenges, problems, conventionality, uncertainty, perfectionism, instant gratification, and short-term perspective. That’s why to think boldly is to think in such a way about these very items so that not only do they not stop you, you use them to propel you forward. To think boldly is to not be put off by many of the things which are inherent in any, and every, significant endeavor.

1) A bold thinker boldly cuts through the fluff in ideas and language. When you think boldly, you work rigorously to cut through the fluff and vagueness that plagues most thinking and communicating. The fierce thinker does not suffer a string of generalities to stand, but digs down into the specifics to create more precise descriptions. She cuts through the sloppiness and fuzziness of over-generalized statements with her sharp thinking that makes distinctions where others do not. She uses the Meta-Model for linguistic clarity. So to become more bold in your thinking, learn the Meta-Model. Learn how to use it rigorously. Be bold to challenge vague fluffy statements.

I’ve been doing that for years about the word “race.” That’s because given the fact that there is only one race on this planet— the human race, there is no such thing as different “races.” It’s non-sense to say there are multiple races. Anyone who uses the word “race” in that way does not even know what he or she is talking about. The same thing with “voter suppression” when a person is talking about have some criteria like voter I.D. That’s not suppression, that’s voter integrity.

2) A bold thinker thoroughly examines things. The bold thinker knows that “the map is not the territory,” that language is not the reality, and so he thoroughly examines and tests what is said. “Does it correspond to the territory?” “Does it refer to anything that actually exists in the world?” “How accurate it the mapping?” “How useful?”

When many people think and speak, they say the first thing that comes to mind. As a result they generate featherweight ideas, softball understandings, and cotton-candy perspectives — all which

belong to elementary school. They lack a disciplined mind. When you discipline your mind, you refuse to accept insipid expressions or words that run out in senseless and diffuse ways. When you are in the presence of a bold thinker, expect that he will trigger you to think. He will ask questions hard to answer which, in turn, activates neural circuits that may have been on vacation for a long time.

3) A bold thinker aims for the specificity of precision. As a bold thinker, she will fiercely push for clarity and precision. Good communication starts in the mind and specifically it starts with high quality thinking. How many reports or articles convey nothing but a haze of general ideas that never commit to anything? In an attempt to crowd everything into the picture, the speaker moves so far back to take it, that it is eventually snapped at a distance so that nothing is in focus. It is all a blur. The article is loaded with linguistic weeds, “It is obvious that...” “There’s was no doubt that...” “I need not mention that ...” These say-nothing phrases need to be weeded out. A bold thinker goes for the facts so that he can ground the idea or proposal in evidence-based details.

Once I thought that this was the unique problem in the field of theology. Then I entered the field of psychology and “lo and behold,” the same problem! It’s really bad in education, business is not much better— but, of course, politics has to be the worst. All these fields and more need bold thinkers who will demand specificity and precision.

4) A bold thinker plays the long-game, thinking consequently. Those who are bold in thinking think ahead. They take the long-term view and do not get caught up with the tunnel-vision of today, or this quarter. As a bold thinker embraces consequences, she thinks consequently. The bold also engage in visionary thinking—for a vision that inspires. They look far ahead and prepare themselves for the long game. They know expertise requires ten-years and that there is no “instant” mastery. It is the long-game that gives you something significant enough and meaningful enough to invest your life in.

Bold thinking has changed the world, is changing it, and will keep changing it. The question is whether you will be one of the bold thinkers. Here’s to your highest and boldest thinking!