Unconventional Wisdom: A Talking Blog by Steve Saenz

When Unconventional Wisdom Becomes Conventional

4/7/2013

Any management consultant worth his/her salt has used the saying, "think out of the box" a time or two when speaking, working with clients, etc.

For some reason, this image (which I saw on Facebook today) made me wonder -- What happens when everyone adopts a certain perspective that was once considered "unconventional wisdom?" Does it become conventional wisdom?

Don't get me wrong, I have used this saying myself along with countless others when trying to make a point. After reading the Discipline of Market Leaders, I began using the term "value proposition" the next day. After reading Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future, I adopted the term "paradigm shift." After reading Only the Paranoid Survive, I incorporated the term "inflection point" in all my presentations. I could go on and on...

It occurs to me that most of us adopt sayings like this without taking the time to figure out (or question) what they really mean. For example, WHAT BOX ARE WE REFERRING TO? I am fully aware that "think outside the box" is a harmless suggestion to think creatively but to paraphrase my original question -- What happens when EVERYONE starts looking outside the box for inspiration???

With this in mind, I would like to offer an unconventional view of what now seems like a rather conventional dose of wisdom, which is this...

When everyone is looking outside the box for inspiration, maybe it's time to look INSIDE!

And, with all due respect to Mr. Chopra (whom I admire greatly) I say it depends on your box :-)

If you have a box of rocks, get rid of it.
If you have a box of wisdom, share it.
If you have a box of books, read them.
If you have a box of tools, fix something.
If you have a box of crayons, color something.
If you have a box of recipes, feed someone.
If you have a box of chocolates, eat some.
And, if you are lucky enough to have a box of love, be kind to someone.