Dumb Stuff

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” ~Abraham Maslow

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The other day, a good friend (former professor and a professional writer) – a man whose top value is a “learning mindset” – said something that caught my attention.

“I’ve realized the importance of ‘dumb stuff.’ It’s the dumb stuff that supports the smart stuff.”

“The dumb stuff supports the smart stuff.”

It’s brilliant!

I loved the idea and sentiment.

Running doesn’t require much intelligence yet; after he runs, he’s a better writer.

Sleep doesn’t require much or any intelligence yet; after he rests, he’s a better writer.

After a few days of contemplating the comment, it occurred to me that this “stuff” is only “dumb” in the context of ‘intelligence.’

In other words, how hard is your brain working while you’re running or sleeping?

Chances are, not very hard.

What if we viewed these behaviors not through an intelligence lens but through a wellness and health one?

Eating right, exercising and getting enough sleep become fundamentals for a well-balanced life.

A larger theme emerged…

Change the lens - the filter - and answers or even behaviors and tools tend to change.

While the episode is called “Dumb Stuff” (like so many episodes on H2G), it’s really about paradigms.

Paradigm defined:

a typical example or pattern of something; a model.* (see behavior model below)

a worldview underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject.

Abraham Maslow, the famed American psychologist, called the inclination – the tendency to use the same tool for different problems – the ‘Law of the Instrument.’

It refers to an over-reliance on a favorite or familiar tool.

Here’s the key point: Before anyone grabs any tool, they have a perception or view of the problem.

It’s less about the tool, at first, and more about the paradigm.

Before any problem is solved, it must be addressed.

How we view challenges, determines not only how we think about them, but how we approach them (our behaviors), and which tools we use.

Maslow’s ‘Law of the Instrument’ tells us that an over-reliance on any particular view and/or tool can result in negative results rather than helpful ones.

Different challenges that are addressed with the same worldview, behaviors and/or tool often equates to non-serving results.

It’s essential to first ask, what paradigm am I addressing this challenge with?

Approaching challenges with an open mind clears the path for new paradigms – new ways of thinking.

It’s new ways of thinking that tend to result in new behaviors, habits and skills; even the use of new tools. (see behavior model below)

Our paradigms lie at the heart of our behavior. These paradigms are fundamental to our problem-solving, psychology and our behaviors.

Enjoy the show!

~mg

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