“How do you Source go about having good ideas? > > You have a lot of ideas and throw away the bad ones.”
We often romanticize the concept of creativity. We imagine a lone genius waiting for a sudden lightning bolt of inspiration. However, the reality of innovation is usually much more practical. True breakthroughs rarely come from a single moment of perfect clarity. Instead, they emerge from a messy, chaotic process of trial and error. This famous quote simplifies that complex journey into a practical formula. It reminds us that quantity often leads to quality. You cannot find gold without digging through a significant amount of dirt first.
This perspective shifts the focus from magic to mechanics. It suggests that being creative is a habit rather than a trait. Consequently, anyone can improve their output by simply increasing their input. You do not need to be right every time. You just need to be willing to be wrong frequently. By generating a massive volume of possibilities, you increase your statistical chance of success. Then, you simply apply a filter. This approach removes the pressure of perfectionism. It allows your mind to explore without fear.
The Origin of the Insight
This profound wisdom comes from Linus Pauling. Source He stands as one of the most accomplished scientists in history. . His work fundamentally changed how we understand chemical bonds. Therefore, his advice on thinking carries immense weight. He did not just theorize about creativity; he practiced it daily. His career spanned decades and covered multiple disciplines. Thus, when he spoke about generating ideas, the scientific community listened closely.
Historians have tracked the origins of this quote carefully. It began appearing in print during the early 1960s. For instance, Fortune magazine profiled Pauling in 1960. The article highlighted his energetic approach to research. It noted that he pursued many different lines of inquiry simultaneously. Subsequently, Time magazine echoed this sentiment in a 1961 profile. They described a man overflowing with concepts and theories. They reported that he believed in the power of accumulating numerous ideas to find the right one.
However, the story likely goes back even further. Pauling later shared a memory from the 1930s. He recalled a conversation with a student named David Harker. In 1935, Harker asked Pauling a simple question. He wanted to know how the great scientist consistently produced such brilliant theories. Pauling replied with the famous line. He explained that he simply had many ideas and discarded the poor ones. This anecdote reveals that Pauling understood this principle early in his career. He relied on this method long before he achieved global fame.
Why Quantity Breeds Quality
This philosophy contradicts our common intuition. We often try to have “good” ideas immediately. We sit down and demand perfection from our brains. But this pressure actually kills creativity. When you judge an idea as soon as it arrives, you stop the flow. You stifle the unexpected connections that lead to innovation. Conversely, Pauling’s method encourages freedom. You must lower your standards initially to let the ideas flow.
You need a large volume of raw material. Your brain relaxes when it knows it can make mistakes. It stops censoring weird or unusual thoughts. Consequently, you begin to make unique connections. Some ideas will be terrible. That is perfectly fine. In fact, it is necessary. You cannot reach the good stuff without the bad stuff. The “bad” ideas often serve as stepping stones. They bridge the gap between conventional thinking and a true breakthrough.
Moreover, this approach creates a safety net. If you only have one idea, you become defensive. You protect it because it is all you have. However, if you have fifty ideas, you can be objective. You do not mind throwing forty-nine of them away. You become less emotionally attached to any single concept. This detachment allows you to think more critically. You can evaluate the merit of an idea without your ego getting in the way.
The Art of Filtering
The second half of the quote is equally important. You must “throw away the bad ones.” This step requires a different set of skills. Generating ideas is a divergent process. It expands your options. In contrast, filtering them is a convergent process. It narrows your options. You must switch modes from creator to critic. This switch is often where people struggle. They fall in love with their own creations and refuse to let go.
Pauling demonstrated this discipline himself. Source He did not always get it right. For example, he once proposed a structure for DNA. He hypothesized that it was a triple helix. . It turned out to be wrong. The physics did not work. However, he accepted the evidence and moved on. He did not cling to the failure. He threw that idea away and continued his work.
This willingness to discard failure is crucial. You must develop a rigorous filter. You need criteria to judge your output. In science, nature provides the filter through experiments. In business or art, you must create your own metrics. Does this solve the problem? Is this feasible? Is this unique? If the answer is no, you must be ruthless. You toss the idea aside and pick up the next one. This cycle of creation and destruction drives progress.
Applying This to Your Work
You can apply this method to any field today. First, set a quota for your brainstorming sessions. Do not stop until you reach fifty ideas. Force your brain to push past the obvious answers. Usually, the first ten ideas are clichés. The next ten are a bit better. The final ten are often where the magic happens. Therefore, do not stop early.
Second, suspend judgment completely. Do not criticize yourself during the generation phase. Write everything down, no matter how silly it seems. Treat every thought as a potential winner. You can edit later. For now, you are simply a collector. You are gathering specimens for examination.
Finally, review your list with a critical eye. Pick the winners and discard the rest. Be honest about what works and what does not. Combine fragments of different ideas. Polish the rough diamonds. This is the path to brilliance. It is not magic. It is simply work. By embracing the volume of ideas, you ensure that you eventually find the one that changes everything.