13 Things I'd Tell My 20-Year-Old Self (I'm a 72-Year-Old Multimillionaire)

Summary

The video explores different types of thinking and the importance of how we think. It introduces magical, modern, post-modern, and paradoxical thinking, illustrating their impact on decision-making and personal growth. Emphasizing the value of persistence, focus, and managing frustration, the speaker highlights how these qualities lead to breakthroughs in solving problems and achieving personal development. Drawing on Zen philosophy, the transcript stresses the importance of embracing both faith and doubt, suggesting that success comes from maintaining focus on a challenge, no matter how paradoxical or frustrating it may seem.

Takeaways

• 😀 Thinking is not just about what you think, but how you think; it shapes your decisions and character.
• 😀 There are four types of thinking: magical, modern, post-modern, and paradoxical. Each has its own approach to understanding the world.
• 😀 Magical thinking attributes outcomes to mystical or divine causes, often seen in less pragmatic perspectives.
• 😀 Modern thinking follows objective, logical principles, focusing on clear distinctions between right and wrong.
• 😀 Post-modern thinking embraces subjective truths, prioritizing personal experience and individual perspectives.
• 😀 Paradoxical thinking involves embracing contradictions, allowing you to approach problems that defy logic and subjectivity.
• 😀 Divergent thinking encourages creativity by finding new perspectives and answers, even when they differ from conventional solutions.
• 😀 The process of decision-making in life is shaped by your thinking, as decisions determine the course of your life.
• 😀 Persistence in problem-solving is key—training your mind to keep working on a challenge without giving up is crucial.
• 😀 Frustration is a natural part of the problem-solving process and can be the energy that leads to breakthroughs.
• 😀 Mastery over frustration and maintaining focus on a problem, even when others would quit, is essential for achieving success.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker regarding thinking?

The speaker emphasizes that it's not just what you think, but *how* you think that shapes your decisions and ultimately, your life. The focus is on developing effective thinking strategies to make better decisions and avoid dead ends in life.

How does the speaker differentiate between 'thinking' and 'how you think'?

The speaker explains that 'thinking' is often mistaken as simply the process of having thoughts. However, it's the approach and style of thinking—shaped by one's character—that is most important in decision-making and problem-solving.

What are the four types of thinking mentioned by the speaker?

The four types of thinking discussed are: Magical thinking (believing in supernatural explanations), Modern thinking (logical and scientific thinking), Post-modern thinking (subjective and personal truth), and Paradoxical thinking (embracing contradictions and complex situations).

What is an example of magical thinking as explained by the speaker?

The speaker gives the example of their grandfather, who was a very practical person but believed that the variety of trees existed because 'God made it that way,' reflecting magical thinking, which attributes events to mystical or supernatural causes.

What is paradoxical thinking, and how is it applied in modern-day thinking?

Paradoxical thinking involves accepting contradictions or opposing ideas, like the concept of 'controlled chaos.' This type of thinking is useful for solving complex problems that can't be solved by logic alone. It is gaining traction in the West as a way to think outside the box.

Why does the speaker highlight the importance of frustration in the problem-solving process?

The speaker emphasizes that frustration is a natural part of the problem-solving process and that managing it effectively is crucial. Frustration builds energy that, when harnessed, leads to solutions. It's important to keep working through frustration without giving up.

How does the speaker relate 'Zen' to problem-solving?

In the Zen tradition, life is considered a riddle of life and death, with a tension between the 'great faith' (belief in something beautiful in life) and the 'great doubt' (the belief that life is meaningless). Zen teaches that the answer comes not by resolving this tension, but by accepting it as part of the process of enlightenment.

What does the speaker mean by 'keeping your head on it' in the context of problem-solving?

'Keeping your head on it' refers to staying focused and persistent on a problem or decision, no matter how difficult it becomes. It means not giving up and not resorting to easy solutions, but instead continually revisiting the problem and managing the frustration that comes with it.

How does divergent thinking play a role in creativity, according to the speaker?

Divergent thinking is about exploring different perspectives and creative solutions. The speaker uses the example of a joke about Johnny thinking a baseball game lasted nine innings, not considering the time, as a way to show how creative minds think differently and challenge conventional answers.

How does the speaker compare Einstein’s approach to problem-solving to everyday challenges?

The speaker highlights Einstein's persistence in solving complex problems, noting that Einstein often succeeded not because of being exceptionally smarter, but because he stayed with problems longer than others. The speaker encourages adopting this persistence when facing any problem, big or small.