Many of history and literature’s greatest characters have apocryphal stories about how they overcame insurmountable odds or solved the insoluble problem by doing the simplest things.
Filippo Brunelleschi was the renaissance architect responsible for the dome of Florence Cathedral. During discussions about his proposals for building the dome, his doubters asked him to explain his plan. He refused, instead he offered them a challenge, stand an egg on its end on the table and he would explain his plan. The doubters tried and failed and so challenged Brunelleschi to try. He broke the end off the egg and stood it on the table. The others in the room said that they could have done the same thing. Brunelleschi answered that if he showed them his plans they could also build the dome.
In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great arrived at Gordium. In the temple was an ox cart, which had been put there by the King of Phrygia over 100 years before. The staves of the cart were tied together in a complex knot with the ends tucked away inside. Legend said that whoever released the knot would conquer the East. Others had tried and failed so Alexander’s advisors told him not to try because failing would be a bad omen. Having conquered most of the known world Alexander was not going to be dissuaded by a knot. After considering the problem, Alexander drew his sword and slashed the knot in two, thereby releasing the staves.
In both of stories the hero goes for what, with hindsight, is the obvious solution. The difference between them and the others is that they solved the problem which was presented whilst the others were trying to solve the problem they perceived. The only preconceived notion they approached the problem with was, if it looks easy then it just might be.
Problem – stand an egg on its end, on a flat surface.
Preconceived Notion – the egg must intact.Problem – release an ox cart bound by a complex knot.
Preconceived Notion – the knot must be untied.
A more realistic example might be, if someone asks for a method for collecting data which is portable, user friendly and is easily adapted to a variety of circumstances . The answer may as simple as pen and paper.
Unfortunately most problems can’t be solved by smashing or hacking with a sword. But we still need to be sure that we are only solving the problem at hand and not trying overcome obstacles which we have inserted. The obvious caution with this approach is encapsulated in the famous quote from Albert Einstein
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”