The Skill You've Never Been Taught: How to Think

The Skill You've Never Been Taught: How to Think

No skill is more valuable and harder to come by than the ability to critically think through problems. It's a skill that is not taught in schools, but one that can be learned through practice and dedication. Good decision-making creates time, while bad decisions consume it. Unfortunately, many people fall into the trap of multitasking, thinking that they are being more productive when in reality, they are impairing their ability to think.

Research has shown that multitasking not only hinders other mental abilities but also impairs our ability to keep information organized in our minds. In a study, individuals who engaged in multitasking were found to be worse at "mental filing," which is the ability to keep information in the right conceptual boxes and retrieve it quickly. This suggests that thinking requires concentration and focusing on one thing long enough to develop an idea about it.

This idea of slowing down and concentrating is echoed by some of the best writers. They write much more slowly than others because they understand that their best thinking comes from giving their brains a chance to make associations, draw connections, and take them by surprise. By sticking to the question at hand, being patient, and letting all parts of the mind come into play, they arrive at original ideas.

Interestingly, the busiest people are often the ones who make the worst decisions. They are constantly caught up in a cycle of correcting poor decisions because they never took the time to think things through in the first place. If we want to think better, we need to schedule time specifically for thinking and hone our understanding of the problem at hand.

In recent years, there has been a shift in how we approach trust and security in the digital world. Google led the way in adopting a zero trust networking approach for its internal applications, which has since been adopted by many other tech companies. This approach challenges the traditional perimeter-based security model, where access is granted based on whether someone is inside or outside the network.

Zero trust computing operates on the assumption that everyone and everything is connected, both good and bad. It leverages the power of zero transaction costs to make continuous access decisions at a more distributed and granular level. This approach eliminates the fundamental contradiction of trying to enable outside access while keeping outsiders out. Instead, trust is established at the individual level through multi-factor authentication and access is granted only to specific resources or applications.

The rise of the internet has not only changed how we think about trust and security but also how information is controlled and disseminated. In the past, the Catholic Church maintained its primacy by controlling information. Similarly, the modern meritocracy has maintained its power by incorporating the press into a broader national consensus. However, the internet has drastically reduced the fixed costs of information dissemination, allowing for a flood of information and misinformation.

While the absolute amount of misinformation has increased, it is important to recognize that the total amount of information has also grown exponentially. The challenge lies in navigating through this vast amount of information and discerning what is true and what is not. The internet has exposed us to more viewpoints and perspectives, but it has also increased political polarization.

Despite the challenges, there is reason for optimism. As more people embrace the idea of fewer gatekeepers and more information, there is potential for innovation and good ideas to emerge. The flood of misinformation can be countered by individuals who have grown up with the internet and have learned to ignore it.

In conclusion, the skill of thinking critically and deeply is invaluable in today's fast-paced world. It is a skill that can be learned through practice and dedication. By slowing down, concentrating, and scheduling time specifically for thinking, we can improve our decision-making and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, embracing a zero trust approach to security and understanding the challenges and opportunities presented by the internet can help us navigate the vast amount of information available to us.