You’ve likely met some people who are the epitome of the classic absent-minded professor. You know the ones…They can’t remember facts or formulas, much less people’s names, and they need to continually reference information that others believe should be second nature. However, once these so-called absent-minded people look up the information they need, they have the uncanny ability to encapsulate very complex concepts into simple-to-understand formulas or words. They’re conceptual thinkers—the people who create new knowledge, products, or innovations. They are the Einstein thinkers of the world.
When asked why he had trouble memorizing formulas and why he earned poor grades in school, Einstein replied, “I do not clutter my brain with facts I can look up in any standard reference within two minutes.” Instead of wasting energy on memorization, Einstein took those easily-accessed facts and created something new with them—he saw the connections among the facts and the patterns underneath the processes. As such, Einstein, who failed math, gave us the power to harness the atom and ultimately create nuclear power.
Today’s most innovative executives are a lot like Einstein. While they may have difficulty knowing precisely, step-by-step, what they do or replicating it on paper, when asked to just do it, they have tremendous success. They have the ability to find the patterns that underlie successful processes and can apply those patterns in new and different industries, thus achieving amazing results wherever they go.
5 Types of Leaders
Very few people are true Einstein thinkers. Rather, people tend to fall into one of four categories.
- The logical thinkers: These people learn from data. They must analyze data in order to move to the next decision. If they don’t have hard data, they can’t move forward. And without that data, they can’t communicate to others how to advance through the needed steps.
- The verbal thinkers: These people learn by hearing. They are more conceptual. They can process the information they learn and can write it out. But while they understand the processes that others do, replicating that process in a different location is difficult for them.
- The pictorial thinkers: These people learn by seeing. If you graphically show them how to do something, they can do it. But if they have to read instructions without pictures, even instructions that are very well written, they’re lost. They can build pretty molecule models, but they can’t do the calculations to tell you what the reaction will be.
- The kinesthetic thinkers: These people learn by doing. You can put them under the hood of a car, show them how to fix a car, and let them dig in and get greasy. Then you can line up a hundred cars and they can fix them all. But if you hand them a manual for fixing a car, and you never show them how to do it hands-on, you’d better find another mechanic to fix what they just broke. These people have to learn by doing, and they have trouble communicating what they learned.
Think of the previous four thinking styles as overlapping circles. In the center of the overlap point are the Einstein thinkers.
- The Einstein thinkers: These people have a little bit of all four thinking styles, yet not enough of one to make them extremely effective in any one realm. However, they have the ability to take a process, no matter how it’s presented—whether verbally, in writing, in pictures, or hands-on—and duplicate the process in different scenarios. Yes, they need to review the process or calculation or formula each time, but once they review the initial process, they move forward and create new things. They read the roadmap and follow it.
Most executives are in one of the first four areas of learning and thought. Those who truly excel no matter where they lead or work are the Einstein thinkers. They have figured out the process of being a CEO or any other c-suite position, and they can apply the process in any environment.
The Process of Einstein Thinking
While thinking like Einstein is not innate for most people, you can learn how to analyze the process underneath everything you do, thus enabling you to venture into the realm of Einstein thinking. Think of it as a process for creating a roadmap, so to speak, and once you own that roadmap, you can apply it to other industries and replicate success. The following guidelines will help.
- Ask “Why?”
Become fanatical about asking yourself “why” at every turn. This enables you to identify the main decision points in any process. Realize that there are actually very few things at a management level that are unique to an industry or company. Yes, there are facts and circumstances that are unique, but no matter what industry you’re in, you have to build relationships inside and outside; you have to comply with certain regulations; and you have to deal with a certain level of customer service. Therefore, identify how you function in each process and ask why you’re doing something, not what you’re doing.
- Know Your Decision Options
When you come to a decision point, ask yourself three key questions:
- Why do I make this decision at this point?
- What influences my decision?
- What are my choices?
Your choices are always the same at any decision point. You can either act or not act, or you can act in a series of choices. So it’s always a yes/no decision or a multiple choice decision. At this point, step away from the tendency to focus on what the question is, and instead focus on the reasoning behind the question.
Create a flow chart that details what you’re asking yourself at this point. Is it a yes/no question or is it a multiple choice question at this decision point? Then follow that up by asking, “Why do I make this decision?” If you know at a certain point that you are making a multiple choice decision, then you can reference what the choices are and what question led you to the choices. At another point in the business cycle you may be faced with a yes/no question. Follow up yes/no questions with, “What happens if I say yes? What happens if I say no? What are the questions I’m answering at this point?”
One of the basic concepts of physics is the unified field theory. The theory states that no matter what the special circumstances are, there are a set of equations or rules under which the entire universe functions. The same exists in business. There are certain things that are always absolutely true in business. When you know the truths and the processes that underlie the truths, then you are thinking like Einstein and can move from point to point in any circumstance.
- Get the Right People on Your Side
Whether or not Einstein thinking comes naturally to you, you need to surround yourself with people who don’t think along the same process that you do. Very few people are truly like Einstein where they can write down their process so others can follow in their footsteps. However, the executives who surround themselves with those who can do the communication for them will have the upper hand. Therefore, get people on your team to interview you and get you talking about your goals and how you got from point A to point B to point C. Your team can then capture your process, encapsulate it, and put it on paper so you can read it and validate it. Doing so enables you and your company to more rapidly achieve goals.
Think Like Einstein Today
Training yourself to think like Einstein—to see the patterns and processes behind everything you do—will enable you to reach your full potential and bring new and innovative ideas to market. Remember that those with the greatest potential are those who are the most adaptable to any circumstance. They innately understand the process that underlies any other person’s success and can replicate it with ease. So create your own roadmap of what you do and follow it in every situation. And if you can’t write your own roadmap, then at least learn how to read the map that others have already created. With some analysis and perseverance, you can be the next Einstein thinker.
Griffin Works offers Pawsitive Interactions with Service Dogs During Response Operations©, an audience-customized training that breaks down barriers by offering hands-on handling training and demonstrations with working service dogs for fire departments, EMS agencies, and public safety organizations.
Part of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and home to the National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center, TEEX has been leading homeland security training since 1998. The major TEEX programs include fire and rescue, infrastructure and safety, law enforcement, economic and workforce development, and homeland security. As a member of The Texas A&M University System, TEEX is unique in its ability to access a broad range of emerging research and technical expertise. Beginning with course design and development all the way through hands-on instruction and national certification testing, TEEX delivers comprehensive training through both classroom and hands-on instruction and as online courses.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was created by Congress in 2000 as part of the Children’s Health Act to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events. This unique network of child-serving professionals, caregivers and young adults, researchers, and national partners is committed to changing the course of children’s lives by improving their care and moving scientific gains quickly into practice across the U.S. The NCTSN is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and coordinated by the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS).
The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The EMI provides national leadership in developing and delivering training to ensure that individuals and groups having key emergency management responsibilities possess the requisite skills to effectively perform their jobs.
The High Alert Institute maintains a list of reviewed courses provided by governments, universities and professional organizations. This list is geared towards the non-emergency management person who participates in disaster planning, preparedness, response, recovery or mitigation as part of their job responsibilities.
The High Alert Institute has partnered with Shutterstock to distribute stock images from the nature images donated by our supporters. For eligible stock images, Shutterstock will donate a portion of the royalty to the High Alert Institute. There is no cost to charitable organizations or to Shutterstock customers.
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Koi need forever homes, too! For pond enthusiasts, freshwater exotic and ornamental fish may not be available through pet stores or rescues in their area. The High Alert Institute Aquatic Pet Shelter Rehoming Program will be happy to assist you in stocking your new pond or adding a new finned friend to your school. Coming soon – when you adopt a Koi from the High Alert Institute Aquatic Pet Shelter Rehoming Program, we can arrange for delivery to your door anywhere in the continental United States.
Have you always wanted a Koi pond but don’t have the space one? Sponsor a Koi in our community shelter pond and we send you photos of your sponsored animal. Coming soon are live Koi Cameras above and below the water to enjoy your sponsored Koi anytime.
Dumping of freshwater non-native species and exotic aquatic pets into wild habitats is a man-made disaster that is truly preventable. The Institute’s Aquatic Pet Welfare Partnership works to raise awareness and reduce the impact on healthy ecosystems through education, as well as rescue and rehoming. Joined by champions of animal welfare and environmental stewardship, this association of aquatic pet rescue operations and aquatic pet shelters across the United States aims to save our finned friends and preserve our waterways together.
Want to share our cause with family, friends, and colleagues? Looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate a birthday or honor someone special? Support the Institute by starting your own Peer-to-Peer fundraising challenge! Let your contacts know why our mission is important to you and what they can do to support your cause. START YOUR OWN FUNDRAISER for the High Alert Institute.
From the staffing pool to the shelter ponds, from the boardroom to the classroom, and from reading the science to writing the analyses, High Alert Institute programs and services benefit from the experience, expertise, and generosity of our volunteers. Put your talents to use for good and to good use – VOLUNTEER TODAY.
Make your donation twice as nice by rehoming aquatic pets and providing a rehabilitation companion pet to a deserving person, family, or facility. Sponsor part or all of a Joy of Koi Program pond installation – complete with rehomed koi – and give the gifts of love and recovery.
Professional photographers, amateurs, and legal copywrite holders are all welcome to participate in the High Alert Institute Nature Photo Donation Program. Sales of the images benefit the Institute and donors are eligible for tax deductions equivalent to the fair market value of their photos. Landscapes, seascapes, animals, flowers – all may be accepted – whether new or vintage images. People may be included in the photo but only if unidentifiable (i.e., blurred figures at a distance).
Did you know that unused patents and copyrights can be donated to charity? Intellectual Property (IP) just sitting on a shelf will lose value as it becomes obsolete. The High Alert Institute IP Donation Program seeks to rescue stranded, technology-related IP with the potential for development into marketable products. Once accepted by the program, the owner/inventor is eligible for a tax deduction equivalent to the fair market value of the IP. The Institute receives the patent licensing fees or revenue from the sale of the IP to businesses, helping us to fund our mission. In turn, businesses are able to advance their markets and create jobs for less money than starting a project from scratch.
Disasters are defined as situations in which needs exceed or overwhelm available resources. Some disasters affect an entire community, while other disasters impact individuals and families. Crises of physical or psychological health can be very personal disasters.
The therapeutic value of pets during illness, trauma, and recovery is well established. And Koi fish may be well suited for people who are not able to provide verbal pet commands or physically care for pets like dogs and cats. Koi ponds are also a source of beauty and peace, providing an ideal setting for quiet reflection or meditation.
We are working to partner with pond installers and aquatic pet rescues/shelters to offer free or reduced-cost ponds with rehomed Koi fish to people seeking this type of pet therapy.
Disasters disrupt life and impact our sense of personal, family, and community safety. Survivors and responders alike often are not aware of the emotional, psychological or spiritual challenges that they may face from disaster onset through recovery. With two decades of experience training responders and communities to prepare for the behavioral health aspects of disasters, we will continue to provide education and a curated list of resources to groups or individuals.
Non-medical factors that impact overall health are termed Social Determinants of Health or SDoH. Noise pollution, poor air quality, and poor water quality are three environmental factors known to have a strong link to overall health. And the same environmental factors that impact humans impact their pets and other animals in their care. We continue to assist in advocacy, education, and technology development to mitigate the impact of SDoH on humans and animals alike.
Our efforts in shelter and rescue are the main focus of our environmental stewardship, reducing the environmental impact of non-native aquatic animals being dumped into public waterways. The High Alert Institute also assists innovators with the design, development, and evaluation of green and renewable energy technologies. Reducing the carbon footprint associated with disaster preparedness, response, and recovery furthers our continued mission to mitigate risk and improve resilience.
We partner with public and private organizations, sharing resources and fostering partnerships to improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, and mitigation.
The High Alert Institute team has over a century of combined research experience in medical, nursing, behavioral health, and disaster sciences. Our team provides support to researchers and technology developers through comprehensive literature searches and reviews, as well as failure mode database searches and adjudicated reviews.
When disaster strikes, most aquatic pet owners have limited options to secure the safety of their pets. Sheltering in place may not be possible if there is no power to provide aeration and “pet-friendly” shelters do not include ponds or aquariums. Our goal is to provide an option for aquatic pet owners in need of rescue and shelter for their finned friends.
Our goal is to share our two decades of disaster readiness experience with animal welfare organizations, shelters, caretakers, and pet owners, as they implement contingency plans for natural and manmade disasters.
