Pauling Principle
The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas and throw away the bad ones.
Also known as: Linus Pauling Principle, Quantity Leads to Quality
Category: Principles
Tags: ideation, creativity, principles, innovations, brainstorming
Explanation
The Pauling Principle, attributed to Nobel Prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling, captures a fundamental truth about creativity and innovation: quality comes from quantity.
**The insight is counterintuitive:**
Most people try to have one great idea. Pauling's approach is different - generate many ideas first, then filter ruthlessly.
**Why this works:**
1. **Removes pressure**: When you're not trying to have the perfect idea, creativity flows more freely.
2. **Increases surface area**: More ideas mean more chances of finding a great one.
3. **Allows combination**: Good ideas often emerge from combining or iterating on mediocre ones.
4. **Builds skill**: The practice of generating ideas improves your ideation ability over time.
5. **Reduces attachment**: When you have many ideas, you're less precious about any single one.
**Practical application:**
- Brainstorm without judgment first
- Aim for quantity before quality
- Set idea quotas (e.g., 'I'll generate 20 ideas before evaluating any')
- Create safe spaces for 'bad' ideas
- Evaluate and filter only after generation is complete
This principle aligns with brainstorming best practices and the design thinking philosophy of divergent-then-convergent thinking.
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