Dumb-Thinking Tools

A curated collection of mental models to help you think "dumb".

The Beginner's Mind

A mental model to approach problems with fresh eyes, free from assumptions and expertise bias.

What it is

The Beginner’s Mind is the ability to see problems as if you’re encountering them for the first time. The more experience we gain, the more we assume things have to be done a certain way. But when we strip away those assumptions, we often find the simplest and most innovative solutions hiding in plain sight.

When to use it

When you’re stuck in “the way things have always been done.”
When a problem seems too complicated to solve.
When your expertise is making you resistant to new ideas.
When entering a new field or brainstorming fresh approaches.

How it works

Forget What You Know

Assume you’re seeing the problem for the first time.

Ask Basic, Obvious Questions

What would a complete outsider ask?

Challenge Industry Norms

Why do things have to be done this way?

Look for the Simplest Path

What would be the easiest possible solution?

Test the "Dumb" Idea

Before dismissing it, see what happens when you try it.

Example

Airbnb: Who Would Let Strangers Sleep in Their House?

Problem

Hotels were expensive, and during big events, travelers struggled to find accommodations. The assumption was that people either stayed in hotels or with friends—there was no middle ground.

Beginner’s Mind Question

“What if people rented out extra space in their homes to strangers?”

Breakthrough

Instead of thinking like traditional hoteliers, the founders of Airbnb thought like travelers. They tested the idea by renting out air mattresses in their apartment during a conference. The experiment worked, proving that people would pay to stay in a stranger’s home—leading to a global home-sharing revolution that disrupted the hotel industry.

Why it works

✓ Strips away assumptions that keep people from seeing new possibilities.

✓ Helps uncover solutions that experts often overlook.

✓ Encourages playfulness and curiosity, leading to creative breakthroughs.

Tips for applying

👉️ Explain your problem to someone outside your industry and see what they ask.

👉️ Ask, “If I had never seen this before, what would confuse me?”

👉️ Imagine being a five-year-old—what would you ask first?

👉️ If a solution seems too obvious, test it anyway.

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