Jamming With The Box
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Daily Thought
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw
Let’s Discuss
We're told to "think outside the box." But what if the box is there for a reason?
Yes, convention exists to be challenged. Boundaries broken. Rules rewritten. But complete disregard for norms risks recklessness. Constraints cultivate creativity. So perhaps the truth lies between raging against the system and following it blindly.
The most successful entrepreneurs dance on this edge. They jam with the box, not just think outside it. They twist it, mold it, and push its walls out bit by bit through a mix of visionary ideals + grounded realism. As Steve Jobs put it:
"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."
Followers think in the box. Leaders obliterate it. But radicals ignore it altogether. And therein lies the problem.
Unchecked radicalism lacks roots. Reckless ambition builds castles on clouds. Visions require actualization. Making the impossible possible demands grounding flights of fancy in reality’s soil. A sprinkle of practicality seasons dreams with substance.
So while the true pioneers peek around the corner of tomorrow, gazing upon shores of possibility yet unexplored...they stand firmly in today's world, gathering tools for the journey ahead.
This interplay between idealism and realism drives progress. History shows victors often craft uncommon solutions from common sense. They resist absolute paths and instead walk the middle way. The radical moderate sees all sides and integrates what works while improving what doesn’t.
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw
To drive change, embrace the paradox of principled yet flexible beliefs. Hold convictions loosely, willing to evolve. See opportunities where rigid minds see obstacles as immovable forces of nature. Be aggressively patient in execution. And have courage in the face of uncertainty.
So yes, rage against the machine when you must. But also respect the gears that keep it running. Work to improve them rather than assume wholesale replacement. Seek to renovate before scrapping everything as broken beyond repair.
Progress lies on the frontier of bold innovation + incremental improvement. Question everything, but also appreciate why things are the way they are. The path forward weaves between conventions and revolutions.
So dream bigger...but start smaller. Ground crazy concepts in common sense. Blend what is with what could be. And never stop jamming with the box