Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life

by Ozan Varol

From a human perspective, not all facts are equal. We tend to incessantly focus on the facts in front of us and neglect other facts that may be hidden in a blind spot. This blind spot results, in part, from our genetic programming. As psychologist Robert Cialdini explains, “It is easier to register the presence of something than its absence.”30 We’re wired to respond to the obvious signs: the rattling in the dark, the smell of gas, the sight of smoke, the screeching of tires. Our pupils dilate, our heart starts pumping faster, and adrenaline is released. Our minds zero in on the potential threat, filtering all other sensory inputs. These mechanisms are essential to our survival, but they also supersede other operations and cause us to miss crucial pieces of data.