Blog

In 1939, a doctoral candidate at the UC, Berkeley, arrived late for a graduate-level statistics class and found two problems written on the board. Not knowing they were examples of “unsolved” statistics problems, he mistook them for part of a homework assignment, jotted them down, and solved them. 

His name was George Dantzig and he later recounted his feat in a 1986 interview:

It happened because during my first year at Berkeley I arrived late one day at one of [Jerzy] Neyman’s classes. On the blackboard there were two problems that I assumed had been assigned for homework. I copied them down. A few days later I apologized to Neyman for taking so long to do the homework — the problems seemed to be a little harder than usual. I asked him if he still wanted it. He told me to throw it on his desk. I did so reluctantly because his desk was covered with such a heap of papers that I feared my homework would be lost there forever. About six weeks later, one Sunday morning about eight o’clock, [my wife] Anne and I were awakened by someone banging on our front door. It was Neyman. He rushed in with papers in hand, all excited: “I’ve just written an introduction to one of your papers. Read it so I can send it out right away for publication.” For a minute I had no idea what he was talking about. To make a long story short, the problems on the blackboard that I had solved, thinking they were homework, were in fact two famous unsolved problems in statistics. That was the first inkling I had that there was anything special about them.

It seems to be in vogue to advise people who are pursuing mastery or success (or both) to seek out a mentor.  But, as the story above illustrates, sometimes not consulting with an authority figure and relying instead on your own wits and intuition leads to a better outcome.

I have never had a real mentor.  So, when facing life or business challenges I've normally handled them one of three ways:

1.  Figure it out

I often just roll up my sleeves, use my own logic and common sense, and figure out a solution.  There is the possibility here of "re-inventing the wheel".  However, there is also the very real possibility that your ignorance will lead you to a more creative solution than a mentor or "expert" would recommend.  Over the years, we've introduced some pretty unusual, innovative and radical solutions at BoldBrush and FASO.  Often, that's been a result of simply figuring things out and following my philosophy of "do the simplest, dumbest thing that will work".  Amazingly, sometimes, years later, we bring in a real "expert."   The expert looks at my "dumb" solution and tells me that it's all wrong and needs to be re-engineered the "right" way.  But once we do the re-engineering, we often discover that the "dumb" way was simpler, easier to understand, performed better and had fewer errors.  Just figure things out and don't over-complicate things.

2.  Read voraciously to find solutions from multiple experts

I consider the entire world of thought leaders and bloggers to be my mentors.  If faced with an issue, I read multiple points of view on the subject and, if I read enough, I start to discover the patterns and solution possibilities that resonate with me, my personality and my  lifestyle.  Why limit yourself to one or a handful of mentors when the whole world can advise you?

3.  Ask colleagues and friends

Ask people from diverse backgrounds about a challenge your facing.  You'll be amazed at the variety of creative ideas that people will suggest.   It's like putting the first solution on steroids.  It's often better to ask people who aren't directly in the industry in which you seek a solution.

In the tech community it seems to be accepted wisdom that you need a mentor.  While it works for many people, I've never been drawn strongly to the idea.  For a while, I figured the problem was me, but I was heartened to see that I'm not alone and that there are others who think like this.  I read the following on Derek Siver's website on his Frequently Asked Questions Page:

"It’s dangerous to think that there is one special person that can give you all the answers and help you." - Derek Sivers

I agree.  And I would add an additional danger:  A mentor can actually limit your creativity if that one special authority figure tells you that you can't do something.  

In the TV series, Lost, the character of John Locke would always say, "Don't tell me what I can't do!"  If your authority figure tells you that you "can't" do what you're attempting to master, that has a tendency to shut down even your attempt.  Even if you do still make the attempt, you will now be coming at it with the wrong mindset.  It's often better, like George Dantzig in the opening story, not to know that you're attempting to solve the "unsolvable."

In tech, again, there is a common pattern:  person founds startup -> person grows startup -> big company acquires startup -> person is now rich -> person starts investing in other startups -> startups look to this person as a mentor.

Here's the issue:  Every success story is unique, has interesting and unexpected turns, and has a bit of good luck and good timing.  Just because someone got rich at a certain point in time, with a certain idea, in a certain industry doesn't mean they are the best person to provide answers and help to you.  Your journey is likely in different industry, at a different time, with different market conditions and opportunities.  And you are the one who is going to have to use your wits to navigate those waters.  

Think about it this way:   it's important to exercise your muscles for your body to grow.  But it's also important to exercise your own logic, wits,  and ability to focus for your mind and mastery to grow.  

If you want to be a great master painter, there is no getting around it, you're going to have to put the miles on the brush and figure things out.  When you encounter problems, instead of immediately seeking help from a mentor, try to solve it your own way.  There is something important, rewarding and fun about forcing yourself to explore unfamiliar areas yourself, alone with your wits, that leads to growth.   This will also force creative and innovative solutions that will likely lead you in your journey of developing your own unique style of painting.

Here are two examples of how forging your own path leads to a creative and radically different style:  Remember Jeff Heely, the blind singer/songwriter?  Check out the this YouTube video.  I guess nobody ever told him that he's playing guitar the wrong way.  Good thing he didn't have a mentor telling him the "right" way to do it.  Or, what about Alexandr Misko?  Didn't anyone tell him that those things at the top of the guitar are for tuning the guitar, not for using as a part of your playing?  Watch Alexandr break the "rules" here. 

So if you're worried, like I was, because you don't have a mentor: relax.  It might be one of the best creative moves you've ever made.

Sincerely,

Clint Watson

BoldBrush/FASO Founder & Art Fanatic