How to think like Successful Inventors and Scientists

Let me tell you a story about Dr. Finsen and the cat.sufficient to produce a scientific discovery or create
Dr. Niels Ryberg Finsen is the famous "light cure"an invention. Without an inquiring-minded observer,
specialist who started to treat lupus (tuberculosis ofchance alone will never produce such a result.
the skin) with electric light in 1895. In 1903, he receivedOne of the great blessings of childhood is the
the Nobel prize in medicine and physiology. Oneinquisitive mind. Children are discovering the world,
summer day, Dr. Finsen gazed outside his studywithout all of the preconceptions that exist in the adult
window and saw a cat sunning itself on the roof of amind. A child's parents are one of their main sources
shed. As he watched, the cat happened to rise andof information before they begin school, and the
move a little in order to get out of the shadow cast byendless stream of questions can at times be difficult to
a house wall. A few minutes later, the cat movedendure along with all of the other responsibilities of
again when the advancing sun lengthened the shadow.adult life. If you are a parent, try not to stop your
Amused and at the same time in a questioning mood,children from asking "why?" all the time. This "why?"
the scientist continued to watch the cat. A third, aattitude can help them to want to learn more and be
fourth, and yet a fifth time he saw it change position tomore observant. It helps the development of their
keep in the sunlight. He noted its attitude of completethinking process. At the same time, don't always
relaxation, its evident feelings of contentment. Theanswer the questions with answers. Encourage your
thought occurred to him "It must be that this cat ischild to think through the "why?" themselves.
getting something out of the sunlight of great benefit toYou can also develop the same mindset as an adult.
it. Would human beings get the same thing?" Thus, theThis mindset can lead to amazing professional
story goes, Dr. Finsen began the studies that led to hisopportunities as well as the scientific breakthroughs.
Nobel prize winning "light cure."Take a look at what people want and what
It is a typical instance called "knowledge by chance"companies are offering. If there is a gap in between,
that has happened to many other famous scientists,you might be able to find ways to close that gap. For
such as Daguerre, Galileo, and Sir Isaac Newton.instance, a company like Netflix changed the way
Probably thousands of other people had seen catsmany people rent movies. Companies like Paypal
basking in the sun; Finsen is the only one who raisedprovide a service to enable online transactions more
the practical question about a cat's passion for sunlight.easily and securely. These companies found the
Similarly it is with Newton and the falling apple, andun-met needs of the market and they fulfill those
Galileo and the swinging lamp. Chance alone is notneeds to great success.