Chapter 11 Section 10: Confronting Apple (2)

Admittedly, some would argue that Jeff Hawkins is unique and that not everyone can come up with innovative theories and groundbreaking inventions like he did.However, if we can use Jeff as a source of motivation for us, as a case study that proves that a problem can be successfully solved by looking at it from a new perspective, maybe we can learn more from him. Why doesn't everyone pay attention to the opportunities around them and make the most of them?A question in the second creative contest more or less explained the reason. A question came up in the contest, requiring contestants to create the greatest value possible with rubber bands.One of the groups came up with the idea for Do Bands.The idea, too, is simple enough to use a wristband to motivate people to "take action" on things they often put off.The idea was inspired by the current popularity of rubber bracelets, which are worn by people to show a certain kind of determination, such as Lance Armstrong's Live Strong bracelet. The Action Bracelet follows several guiding principles:

* A promise to do something while wearing a bracelet on your wrist * Take off the wristband after the promised things are completed * Record the success facts on the official website of the "Action Bracelet".Each 'action bracelet' is numbered, so people know all the things they've been inspired to do by a particular bracelet * Pass the "action bracelet" to the next person "Action Bracelets" can motivate people to do things they always wanted to do but didn't do.Although it's just a rubber band, sometimes something as simple as a rubber band is enough to move people into action and make a fundamental leap from "don't do" to "do". The "Action Band" campaign lasted only a few days, but in those few days, it inspired a long list of things: Some people called their mothers; others wrote Thank you letters express gratitude; someone signs up for a fitness class and starts exercising; someone is inspired to attend summer camp with an Action Wristband; someone is inspired to reconnect with a long-lost friend; someone volunteers to a charity donated money.Interestingly, all one needs to achieve these actions is a rubber wristband.At the same time, it also clearly reminds people that although "doing" and "not doing" are just a thought, the results are very different.

I give a similar task in my classroom to get students to practice seeing obstacles in their lives with a fresh perspective.I start by asking them to ask a question, and then pick something at random from around them; then they have to figure out how the chosen thing will help them solve the problem.I didn't know in advance what questions they might ask, what objects they would choose, or whether they would be able to solve the problem smoothly as required.For the most part, though, the students successfully solved seemingly unrelated problems using the objects they had chosen.