Different types of psychology


How to think like Successful Inventors and Scientists

Let me tell you a story about Dr. Finsen andinvention. Without an inquiring-minded
the cat. Dr. Niels Ryberg Finsen is theobserver, chance alone will never produce
famous "light cure" specialist who started tosuch  a  result.
treat lupus (tuberculosis of the skin) with
electric light in 1895. In 1903, he receivedOne of the great blessings of childhood is
the Nobel prize in medicine and physiology.the inquisitive mind. Children are
One summer day, Dr. Finsen gazed outside hisdiscovering the world, without all of the
study window and saw a cat sunning itself onpreconceptions that exist in the adult mind.
the roof of a shed. As he watched, the catA child's parents are one of their main
happened to rise and move a little in ordersources of information before they begin
to get out of the shadow cast by a houseschool, and the endless stream of questions
wall. A few minutes later, the cat movedcan at times be difficult to endure along
again when the advancing sun lengthened thewith all of the other responsibilities of
shadow. Amused and at the same time in aadult life. If you are a parent, try not to
questioning mood, the scientist continued tostop your children from asking "why?" all the
watch the cat. A third, a fourth, and yet atime. This "why?" attitude can help them to
fifth time he saw it change position to keepwant to learn more and be more observant. It
in the sunlight. He noted its attitude ofhelps the development of their thinking
complete relaxation, its evident feelings ofprocess. At the same time, don't always
contentment. The thought occurred to him "Itanswer the questions with answers. Encourage
must be that this cat is getting somethingyour child to think through the "why?"
out of the sunlight of great benefit to it.themselves.
Would human beings get the same thing?"
Thus, the story goes, Dr. Finsen began theYou can also develop the same mindset as an
studies that led to his Nobel prize winningadult. This mindset can lead to amazing
"light  cure."professional opportunities as well as the
scientific breakthroughs. Take a look at
It is a typical instance called "knowledgewhat people want and what companies are
by chance" that has happened to many otheroffering. If there is a gap in between, you
famous scientists, such as Daguerre, Galileo,might be able to find ways to close that gap.
and Sir Isaac Newton. Probably thousands ofFor instance, a company like Netflix changed
other people had seen cats basking in thethe way many people rent movies. Companies
sun; Finsen is the only one who raised thelike Paypal provide a service to enable
practical question about a cat's passion foronline transactions more easily and securely.
sunlight. Similarly it is with Newton and theThese companies found the un-met needs of the
falling apple, and Galileo and the swingingmarket and they fulfill those needs to great
lamp. Chance alone is not sufficient tosuccess.
produce a scientific discovery or create an



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