Extreme Thinking

Thinking is something we all do, mostly, for a large part of our waking day. We see options, ponder the right one, and then act. Our lives are filled with choices to consider, select, and then deal with the consequences. Some call this adulting; I call it extreme thinking.

But advanced extreme thinking is not just a choice between cornflakes and rice crispies for breakfast, it deals with decisions that can be equated to important long-term decisions that offer defining moments and legacy-altering outcomes. even the smallest choice can have a lifelong impact.

So, how do we learn this critical thinking and then get it right?

I see extreme thinking as falling into four categories as defined in my I5 framework:

• Ideation – sensemaking and information gathering.
• Innovation – Making the right choice to proceed with the right idea
• Incubation – Taking that decision and developing it into a working model
• Initiation – Taking the first step towards success

These four stages of extreme thinking blend into each other and are often seen as a single activity or project, but the skills, tools and techniques for each are different as are the people required to complete them.

For any business, team or project wanting to launch off a solid, secure foundation, these stages are essential to the sustainable success of any project with maximum impact.