Here are some excerpts from “A Whole New Mind”.
Meaning-“We are not human beings on a spiritual path, but spiritual beings on a human path”
We live in a world of breathtaking material plenty. That has freed hundreds of millions of people from day-to-day struggles and liberated us to pursue more significant desires: purpose, transcendence, and spiritual fulfillment.
Play- “The opposite of play isn’t work. It’s depression. To play is to act out and be willful, exultant and committed as if one is assured of one’s prospects”
Ample evidence points to the enormous health and professional benefits of laughter, lightheartedness, games, and humor. There is a time to be serious, of course. But too much sobriety can be bad for your career and worse for your general well-being. In the Conceptual Age, in work and in life, we all need to play
Empathy- “Imagine yourself in someone else’s position”
The capacity for logical thought is one of the things that makes us human. But in a world of ubiquitous information and advanced analytic tools, logic alone won’t do. What will distinguish those who thrive will be their ability to understand what makes their fellow woman or man tick, to forge relationships and to care for others.
Symphony- “The ability to put together pieces…synthesize, not analyze”
Much of the industrial and Information Ages required focus and specialization. But as white-collar work gets routed to Asia and reduced to software, there’s a new premium on the opposite aptitude” putting the pieces together, or what I call Symphony. What’s in greatest demand today isn’t analysis but synthesis- seeing the big picture, crossing boundaries, and being ale to combine disparate pieces into an arresting new whole.
Design- “Designers are agents of change”
It is no longer sufficient to create a product, a service, an experience, or a lifestyle that’s merely functional. Today it’s economically crucial and personally rewarding to create something that is also beautiful, whimsical, or emotionally engaging.
Story- “We are our stories”. “Story leads to understanding”
When our lives are brimming with information and data, it’s not enough to marshal an effective argument. Someone somewhere will inevitably track down a counterpoint to rebut your point. The essence of persuasion, communication, and self-understanding has become the ability also to fashion a compelling narrative. |
