Last week I had a few days writing in the sun. The hotel was very nice, the breakfast very average.

Two days running, the early morning team managed to make the world’s worst double espresso. Weak, too much liquid, lukewarm. Yuck!

I asked how they made them and they said it was just a button on the machine. Hmmmmm ...

I wanted to see that machine, to be a hero, to get out my screwdrivers and to save all those other disappointed double caffeine-deprived breakfasters.

On the third day, when I was about to describe in great detail what a double espresso should be like, Christine suggested that I should just chill and ask for two single ones.

Every piece of my logical brain screamed that it wouldn’t make any difference. I just wanted to explain that the ONLY way to fix the problem would be to fix the machine. Right?

Then my old mantra, ‘Do you want to be married or do you want to be right? You can’t have both’ popped up - and I politely asked for two single espressos.

And they were perfect! Delicious, hot and strong.

How we approach a problem is often governed by old thinking.

And, as you know, you can’t solve your problems with the same thinking that caused them in the first place.

New Thinking = New Results

With the political turmoil around the world right now, especially in the UK, I wish our political ‘leaders’ would park their egos, ask better questions, acquire some fresh thinking and go for new and better results.

But that would involve having to let go and be open-minded.

What are your best creative thinking tools?  Please leave your comments here and I’ll send a copy of my book, Flip It how to get the best out of everything to my favourite one.

Be Brilliant!