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9.17.2007

The Second Right Lesson

This challenging quote from Roger von Oech's book: "A Whack on the Side of the Head" has got me thinking about the great lessons that I have put my trust in may even be taking the place of even better, more far-reaching lessons.

Much of our educational system has taught us to look for the one right answer. This approach is fine for some situations, but many of us have a tendency to stop looking for alternative right answers after the first right answer has been found. This is unfortunate because often it's the second, or third, or tenth right answer which is what we need to solve a problem in an innovative way.

There are many ways to find the second right answer-asking "what if", playing the fool, reversing, breaking the rules, etc. Indeed, that's what much of this book is about. The important thing, however, is to look for the second right answer, because unless you do, you won't find it.

Look for the 'second right lesson'.