David Carson
Helping People Get Smarter by Thinking Dumber
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Dumb-Thinking Tools
A curated collection of mental models to help you put "dumb-thinking" into practice.
Ask Dumb Questions
Unlock unexpected insights by asking the questions others ignore or miss.
Beginner's Mind
Approach problems with fresh eyes, free from assumptions and expertise bias.
Do the Opposite
Flip your instincts and assumptions to unlock unexpected success.
Absurd Thinking
Push past logical barriers to uncover unconventional solutions.
See Fresh Angles
Find hidden solutions by changing how you look at a problem.
What Would MacGyver Do?
Solve problems by maximizing the resources already available to you.
Improv 'Yes And'
Unlock creativity by building on ideas instead of shutting them out.
Make it Worse
Solve problems by first making them worse—then flipping the results into solutions.
What If Experiments
When you need to push past conventional thinking and unlock fresh ideas.
Random Word Association
Generate unexpected ideas by forcing connections between unrelated words and problems.
"Nobody's Here Party" Method
Why elbow your way into a crowded dance floor when you can build your own?
David Carson
David Carson is an entrepreneur and marketing troublemaker who’s spent his career proving that the dumb ideas are often the smartest ones. He’s built companies that millions have used, and worked with brands like American Express, Nike, Coca-Cola, and IKEA—usually by convincing them to zig when everyone else was zagging. From ad agencies like Mother and Ogilvy to his own ventures, Carson’s fingerprints are on work that doesn’t just sell products, it rewires how people think about business, creativity, and what’s possible.
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© 2024 David Carson