Card #25 – ”See the Obvious” from the Creative Whack Pack
Available on the iOS App Store and as a physical deck of cards
“Only the most foolish of mice would hide in a cat’s ear,” says designer Philip Dhingra, “but only the wisest of cats would think to look there.”
Sometimes the most helpful ideas are right in front of us, but we fail to see them.
A good technique for seeing the obvious is to explain your problem to someone who knows absolutely nothing about it. This should bring some of its overlooked aspects to the fore.
As Rumi, the Persian mystic put it: “You wander from room to room searching for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck.”
— What are you overlooking in your current situation?
— What resources and solutions are right in front of you?
— If you step back away from your situation, what are the five most obvious things you can say about it?
Tip: A useful technique for seeing the obvious is to explain your problem or situation in detail to someone who knows absolutely nothing about it. This should bring some of its overlooked aspects to the fore.
