How to Think Like a Fool #6: Scare Yourself

RISK: Scare Yourself
Before somebody else does.

You only need to know one word:
BOO!

Works for me every time.

Like tickling yourself, scaring yourself is not always easy, because you know it's coming.

But fools may need to cure their hiccups by yelling BOO! (got me again) or push themselves past the finish-line by pretending they are being chased.

In my stage show, "Help! Help! I Know This Title is Long, But Somebody's Trying to Kill Me!", I frighten myself by pretending that all the other performers in the variety show were murdered, and I have to do all the acts in the show alone, or else I'm next. This forces me to find inventive ways to perform these acts, because I'm a master of none. Instead of courage, I rely on quirky creativity.

By taking on both the mischievous role of the scarer and the innocent role of the scaree, you play with your anxieties instead of being owned by them. Bring fun back to fear, like you were telling and hearing ghost stories around the campfire.

Think: How can I use fear to solve this problem? What am I afraid of? How can I scare myself?

Tomorrow: How to Think Like a Fool #7: Make a Fool Out of Yourself

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How to Think Like a Fool # 5: Try a Really Bad Idea

RISK: Try a Really Bad Idea
You are absolutely, positively sure this idea won't work. You don't even have to think about it. What a perfect time to try it out before you discard it into the dustbin of stupidity.

Recently, I've been watching Laurel and Hardy movies, and often something will happen like this: Stan will start to chop branches for the fire on the counter. Ollie will tell him to do it on the floor instead. Knowing them and their movies, where everything that can go wrong, you can see coming a mile away, I shout, "Don't do it!" and inevitably Stan chops off the front of Ollie's shoe (although the toes escape amputation by retreating). It's a bad idea just to give one of them a sharp object.

But there are benefits to following though with apparently misguided ideas. When you say no right away, you start building blocks in front of a brainstorm. At least write the idea down as if you planned to come back to it, which will keep your mind well lubricated. And this idea may lead you towards a better one, or, after some thought and experimentation, might be a great idea after all.

If all you have to lose is the front of your shoe, start chopping.

Think: Is this idea good or bad? Who cares? Let's try it anyway! In fact, what's the worst solution I can think of for this problem?

Recently in the NY Times: Searching for Value in Ludicrous Ideas - Allison Arieff Blog

Tomorrow: How to Think Like a Fool #6: Scare Yourself

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How to Think Like a Fool #4: Set Yourself Up for Failure

RISK: Set Yourself Up for Failure
There are many ways to set yourself up for failure, whether it's setting unrealistic goals, trying to do too much in too little time, sabotaging your efforts, over-worrying, or basically thinking like a fool.

Fools plan to fail so that they make mistakes sooner. Here you bump up the risk-taking by consciously botching things. The sooner and more often you fail, the quicker you learn.

And in your perceived failure may be the solution to your problem or another unrelated problem—think of the mistakes that led to Penicillin and Post-it Notes.

You might even be a mistake.

Think: What do I have to do to fail at this? How can I make it happen sooner than later?

Tomorrow: How to Think Like a Fool # 5: Try a Really Bad Idea

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How to Think Like a Fool #3: Don't Solve the Problem

RISK: Don't Solve the Problem
Now that you've found or created problems, why bother to solve them? March forth!

Even when your foot is stuck in a bucket and your pants are down, your real goal may be to jump rope while standing on a ball. If you spend too much time trying to free your foot and pull up your pants, you may never realize your wonderful, crazy dream.

You have bigger foolishness to fry. Achieve imperfection! The original problem will either take care of itself, quit distracting you from the larger ones, or increase the challenge.

Think: What problem or problems are holding me back? How can I move forward without solving them?

See also my older post on not solving the problem.

Tomorrow: How to Think Like a Fool #4: Set Yourself Up for Failure

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How to Think Like a Fool #2: Make Things More Difficult

RISK: Make Things More Difficult

"Deep in the sea are riches beyond compare.
But if you seek safety, it is on the shore."
—Saadi of Shiraz

When the going gets tough, the fool makes it tougher. Whether you are solving a problem, creating new ones to solve, or just performing an everyday activity, it doesn't take much effort to increase the difficulty.

Right now I'm typing this while standing on my office chair (one that swivels and rolls), my knees aren't bent, and my keyboard is on my desk. Why not?

Challenge relieves boredom, stretches your abilities, adds some fun, and makes the original problem fade away in the process. I'm no longer worried about the quality of my writing, because I'm now trying to keep from falling.

My back now hurts. Yes! New problem to solve! Or I could make things even harder by standing on one foot and increasing the distance between the desk and the chair.

Creative solutions aren't always the easiest or the most economical.

Think: How can I make this more difficult?

See also my older post on obstacles.

UPDATE: Make Things More Difficult Movie

TOMORROW How to Think Like a Fool # 3: Don't Solve the Problem
Previously:
How to Think Like a Fool #1: Look for Trouble
RIPPO the Fool—5 Types of Fool Think
How to Think Like a Fool in 60 DWays

How to Think Like a Fool #1: Look for Trouble

RISK: Look For Trouble
To solve problems like a fool, you need problems. You may object that you already have enough problems, but RIPPO the Fool knows that finding the problems before they find you gives you the upper-hand and the element of surprise.

The world is your banana peel—step on it! Embrace the peel! Say "yes!" to the problems that you encounter. Dance with trouble and you'll exercise your creative muscles.

Plus, a pinpointed problem is easier to solve.

What's your problem? Find another. And another. Bring it on.

UPDATE: Look for Trouble Movie:

TOMORROW How to Think Like a Fool #2: Make Things More Difficult

RIPPO the Fool—5 Types of Fool Think

After looking over my list of 60 "How to Think Like a Fool" concepts, I found they awkwardly fit into 5 categories, with many being able to crossover the boundaries—just like a good fool does.

Risk
Imagine
Play
Pretend
Observe

They're pretty self-explanatory. That's a picture of RIPPO below:

NEXT How to Think Like a Fool #1: Look for Trouble