Quotes from Peter Sims

tyranny of large numbers, explaining that "there's a natural tendency to think in terms of bigger bets as you get to be bigger.

Finding Nemo would, of course, become another huge Pixar hit, validating Ed Catmull's belief that it's better to fix problems than prevent errors.

status quo bias. This research demonstrates that people do not like to change unless there is a compelling reason to do so, such as an attractive incentive. Related research shows that people exhibit strong "loss aversion," in that they are twice as likely to seek to avoid losses as they are to acquire gains.

The reason they all failed and the reason they were big is that someone was already there.

finding ways to fail quickly, to invest less emotion and less time in any particular idea or prototype or piece of work, is a consistent feature of the work methods of successful experimental innovators.

main advice was that we should just get out, talk with potential customers, and look for problems and needs before coming up with any strategies

A lot of our most successful ideas over the years came from the bottom up, by really understanding user needs.

Creativity becomes a way of life. This then is the opportunity and invitation: little bets provide a powerful vehicle to approach life and work in a new way.

illusion of rationality." We are all vulnerable to this illusion. It happens when ideas or assumptions seem logical in a plan, spreadsheet model, PowerPoint, or memo, yet they haven't been validated on the ground or in the real world.

When it comes to our educational systems, perhaps the most important question that we can ask is this: What is the purpose of education? Is it to impart knowledge and facts or is it to nurture curiosity, effortful problem solving, and the capacity for lifelong learning?

students are taught that knowledge is static and complete, and they become experts at consuming knowledge rather than producing knowledge." This is unacceptable.

Not only can we not teach doctrinally approved solutions any more [which take roughly two years to be approved], the truth is, we don't even know all the problems!

The best way to predict the future is to invent it." After all, life is a creative process.

Attaining a state of flow can be quite rare because there are many barriers to freeing our minds. Csikszentmihalyi identifies negative forms of perfectionism, fear, self-doubt, and self-censoring as primary obstacles to flow.

There are several major improvisation principles. One is that you should "accept every offer.

Accepting every offer by using "yes … and" language, a cornerstone of improvisation, facilitates building up ideas.

another foundation of improvisation: Make your partner look good. Because Bob and Sherry aren't criticizing one another, it creates a positive atmosphere to generate possibilities. Positive energy drives improvisation, and reduces inhibitions and doubts.

The more people and perspectives in your sphere of reference, the more likely good insights and opportunities will combine

Just as Wiseman's research demonstrates that we can make our own luck, including by lowering our rigid expectations and being open to new ones, Tim Russert made his own luck.

Effective plussing requires that people let go of the need to control every detail.

successful humor breaks down the power structures that tend to inhibit tighter social bonds and interactions

Thoen beautifully describes the value of prototyping: Potential users of ideas are more comfortable sharing their honest reactions when it's rough, just as people at P&G are less emotionally invested in their ideas. "The barrier of getting feedback from the consumer side is lower," Thoen says, "and the barrier for accepting feedback from the company's point of view is lower as well.

Constraints shape and focus problems and provide clear challenges to overcome.

Fixed mind-sets cause people to be overconcerned with seeking validation, such as grades, titles, or social recognition. Conversely, those favoring a growth mind-set believe that intelligence and abilities can be grown through effort, and tend to view failures or setbacks as opportunities for growth. They have a desire to constantly challenge and stretch themselves.