Focus on the Solution not the Problem 7 comments

When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn’t work due to the zero gravity and ink not being able to flow to the writing surface. They proceeded to develop a pen, at the cost of $12 million, that worked anywhere. Underwater, upside down and, of course, at zero gravity.

The Russians encountered the same problem…what was their solution?

They used a pencil.

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Why Intelligent People Fail 12 comments

Content from Sternberg, R. (1994). In search of the human mind. New York: Harcourt Brace.

photo credit: andyp uk
1. Lack of motivation. A talent is irrelevant if a person is not motivated to use it. Motivation may be external (for example, social approval) or internal (satisfaction from a job well-done, for instance). External sources tend to be transient, while internal sources tend to produce more consistent performance.

2. Lack of impulse control. Habitual impulsiveness gets in the way of optimal performance. Some people do not bring their full intellectual resources to bear on a problem but go with the first solution that pops into their heads.

Life Explained 8 comments

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

“Not very long,” answered the Mexican.

“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee 22 comments

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked his students if the jar was full…they all agreed that it was full.