Explore Exponential Thinking to Combat COVID-19

“The whole globe is shook up, so what are you going to do when things are falling apart? You’re either going to become more fundamentalist and try to hold things together, or you’re going to forsake the old ambitions and goals and live life as an experiment, making it up as you go along.” —Pema Chodron

Life is unpredictable in the present pandemic globally because of the limitations involved in planning to overcome them. Despite creating the dots and connecting them it cannot be predicted which dots materialize. In this disruptive world, you must act effectively and swiftly to contain the virus.

Linear Thinking versus Exponential Thinking

Here are some differences between linear thinking and exponential thinking. In linear thinking, you take one step at a time whereas, in exponential thinking, you take huge leaps and bounds. Linear thinkers have a fixed mindset and live in their comfort zone while the exponential thinkers have a growth mindset and are out of their comfort zone. Linear thinkers set their goals while exponential thinkers stretch their goals. The mindset of linear thinkers can be compared with a simple interest while the mindset of exponential thinkers can be compared with compound interest.

Linear thinking involves a conventional approach while exponential thinking involves an unconventional approach. Linear thinkers think within the box while the exponential thinkers think out-of-the-box. For linear thinkers, failure is a full stop, not a comma. For exponential thinkers, failure is only a comma, not a full stop. Linear thinkers follow the routine rules while the exponential thinkers are futuristic and travel beyond their present times and technologies. When you want to excel as a futuristic leader, you must acquire an exponential thinking mindset. Don’t mistake an exponential thinking mindset for a strategic thinking mindset. In strategic thinking, you think from the long-term perspective whereas, in exponential thinking, you think beyond the long-term perspective.

Exponential thinking involves living with the risk which is certainly living in this world while linear thinking involves certainty which is certainly existing in this world like anybody else. Exponential thinkers leverage their loneliness and their interaction with others and integrate with their knowledge to produce the best results. An exponential mindset creates something unique and innovative. Most Nobel laureates have this mindset because they are creative, intelligent, take feedback, follow-up their activities and persist throughout their lives to accomplish their goals.

Extraordinary Achievers Think Exponentially

Individuals with an exponential mindset are ambitious and independent. They are risk-takers, tough task-masters, and status quo ante. They are visionaries with a clarity of mind where they intend to go cannot be understood by average individuals. They are creative thinkers and trendsetters. They emphasize excellence and live beyond their lifetime.

Extraordinary achievers are creative, tenacious and resilient. They are exponential thinkers, continuous learners, take feedback regularly, and follow-up their activities strictly. They improve their talents and skills regularly to outgrow others. Human brains are hardwired to think linearly. It is only the extraordinary achievers who understand the potential in exponential thinking and leverage it effectively to achieve amazing success. Some of the extraordinary achievers including Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Mark Zuckerberg are exponential thinkers.

Global companies including Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple thrived due to an exponential mindset. Some of the small companies including Uber and Airbnb are challenging the global giants and thriving due to their exponential mindset. Leaders must cultivate an exponential mindset to excel and add value to their communities and societies globally.

Think and Act Exponentially 

Exponential leaders retrain their brains to forge clarity in the midst of the ambiguity. They excavate their old beliefs to accelerate effectively through the adaptation and acquisition of, new mindsets and skillsets.

Unless you think exponentially, you cannot act exponentially. In this cutthroat competitive world, you must think and act exponentially to stand out from others. We are living in a world with unprecedented challenges such as COVID-19. Therefore, there is an urgent need for leaders to explore exponential thinking to combat the virus. To conclude, exponential thinking is the need of the hour globally to predict the future and prevent black swan events.

Commentary by Professor M.S. Rao. Here’s what you’ve missed?
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