Are you in or out--of the "box"?
There is a lot of talk these days about thinking "outside the box", which I interpret to mean, "Thinking of a new idea that may go against some unspoken social norm". People who think outside the box are normally praised for their creativity--after the idea is implemented and proven successful. Before then, their ideas are often criticized or ignored.
So what is this box, really? It's a guideline based on what has already been done within an organization or certain type of activity. Is it inherently good or bad to stay within these parameters? It's hard to say. As we've often heard, "You don't need to reinvent the wheel," or "If it's not broken, don't fix it." Others would say that it's okay to reinvent the wheel if it results in making a better wheel. the wheels on our cars today are superior to the ones on horse-drawn carriages 100 years ago!
So is it better to invest time thinking of new things or rely on the "tried and true" methods of the past? In reality, we need a balance. When I am involved in some activity, I think (consciously or unconsciously) which elements I like and which ones could stand some improvement. I keep the good ones (thinking inside the box) and I look for ways to improve the others (thinking outside the box). A friend of mine in college once told me, "Ben, some people think inside the box and some people think outside the box. But with you, I get the impression that there really is no box." I couldn't agree more. I don't care whether an idea is new or old. If it's a good one, let's use it.
There are two worlds that I am talking about here: the world of realities and the world of possibilities. Some people are stuck in the real world and never venture outside that box into the world of possibility. Over and over in my life I have enjoyed seeing a possibility begin in a person's mind, then take a written form, and ultimately materialize. This kind of thing excites me. It bridges the gap between the real and possible world and reminds me that just about anything is possible.
So what is this box, really? It's a guideline based on what has already been done within an organization or certain type of activity. Is it inherently good or bad to stay within these parameters? It's hard to say. As we've often heard, "You don't need to reinvent the wheel," or "If it's not broken, don't fix it." Others would say that it's okay to reinvent the wheel if it results in making a better wheel. the wheels on our cars today are superior to the ones on horse-drawn carriages 100 years ago!
So is it better to invest time thinking of new things or rely on the "tried and true" methods of the past? In reality, we need a balance. When I am involved in some activity, I think (consciously or unconsciously) which elements I like and which ones could stand some improvement. I keep the good ones (thinking inside the box) and I look for ways to improve the others (thinking outside the box). A friend of mine in college once told me, "Ben, some people think inside the box and some people think outside the box. But with you, I get the impression that there really is no box." I couldn't agree more. I don't care whether an idea is new or old. If it's a good one, let's use it.
There are two worlds that I am talking about here: the world of realities and the world of possibilities. Some people are stuck in the real world and never venture outside that box into the world of possibility. Over and over in my life I have enjoyed seeing a possibility begin in a person's mind, then take a written form, and ultimately materialize. This kind of thing excites me. It bridges the gap between the real and possible world and reminds me that just about anything is possible.
posted by Ben and Christina at
10:28 AM
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