Formulate More. Solve Less.
Albert Einstein said it’s better to spend more time formulating solutions than solving them. Research proves him right. Here's how to apply his insight to be more successful in any endeavor.
“The formulation of a problem is more essential than its solution.” Albert Einstein. Image by techno-sapien.com.
Albert Einstein said, “the formulation of a problem is more essential than its solution. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, marks real advance.”
A landmark University of Chicago study in 1972 confirmed that Einstein’s idea works. Researchers observed 70 artists as they created a solution to an artistic prompt. They gave the same problem and the same materials to each.
The best output came from the artists who spent the most time repositioning subjects, tearing materials, and moving around.
Drawn by www.techno-sapien based on research at The University of Chicago
Hemmingway Social Posts: a simple exercise to practice formulating more and solving less
How often do you step back and look at problems from a new angle?
Here’s a simple exercise to develop the habit of formulation. I call it the Hemmingway Social Post. This week, pause before you click “share” or “retweet” on social media.
Write down, in six words, why you're sharing this article, image, or video. Like Ernest Hemingway did.
Don't just look from one angle. Try 5 or more, like:
What surprised you?
Is it funny?
Are you about to brag (skip this one!)
How could it help someone?
Did it make you happy?
Answering in six words forces you to spend time framing, not writing.
After 5 or 10 minutes, review your ideas. Pick your favorite.
Now click “share.”
The habit of formulation is embedded in the culture of effective companies
The Hemmingway Social Post exercise will make your posts better, help others, and get more likes. But that’s just the beginning. There's a big world of formulation habits to build.
At Amazon, projects don’t start without peer review of a mock press release. Try writing a press release about your solution before you start a new project.
Designers of all types begin with paper prototypes and mock-ups. Do this more.
Re-write important emails, posts, or presentations over and over. For example, I re-wrote this post nine times in six tools. I used Day One, Grammarly, Squarespace, Google Docs, Canva, and Hemmingway Editor. Each tool makes me look at it from a fresh angle.
Take time to formulate before mindlessly solving problems
As your habit forms, you’ll see opportunities everywhere to flip problems over before rolling up your sleeves! Every endeavor requires problem-solving--software, math, data science, writing, entrepreneurship, pharmaceutical research, sales…
But whatever you do, you’ll do it better if you formulate more and solve less. It was true in 1938, 1972, and today.
For More Information
Read and discuss this article, and download the Formulate / Solve eBook, on LinkedIn.
Discovery-Oriented Behavior and the Originality of Creative Products: A Study with Artists. M Csikszentmihal and J.W. Getzels, University of Chicago, 1972.
The Evolution of Physics, 1938. Albert Einstein, Leopold Infeld.
Jeff Bezos Requires Amazon's Leaders to Perform This Powerful Ritual Before Launching Anything. Inc. Magazine.
Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark
