Learning Optimism With the ..
5
8/6/2019 Learning Optimism With the .. http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/learning-optimism-with-the- 1/5 H ar va rd Bu si n es s P u bl i sh i ng | F or E d uc at o rs | For Corporate Buyers | Visit Harvard Business School Get daily posts in your inbox | HBR Blog Network ANTHONY TJAN Anthony Tjan is CEO, Managing Partner and Founder of the venture capital firm Cue Ball. An entrepreneur, investor, and senior advisor, Tjan has become a recognized business builder. Anthony Tjan Overloaded Circuits: Why Smart People Underperform by Edward Hallowell $6.95 Buy it now » Employee Motivation: A Powerful New Model by Linda-Eling Lee, Boris Groysberg, Nitin Nohria $6.95 Buy it now » FEATURED PRODUCTS EMAIL SHARE PRINT HBR Blog Network Learning Optimism with the 24x3 Rule 9:47 AM Tuesday July 26, 2011 | Comments (14) One of my greatest mentors was t he late Jay Chiat of TBWA Chiat Day, an iconoclast in the field of advertising with a constant imagination for possibilities in business and life. Jay embodied the three traits of a "lucky attitude" that I described in my last post: humility, intellectual curiosity, and optimism. Of these three characteristics, it was Jay's optimism which was perhaps his greatest lesson to me. He inspired people to embrace optimism — inside themselves, and also, as importantly, in others. It is a gift to understand how to project, share, and inspire with optimism. It is an even greater act of generosity to be inspired by optimism from others and to be willing to receive it. The capacity to be a natural recipient of ideas and other peoples' optimism is what makes for the ultimate optimist. You may be open to experimenting with new things, but do you truly see the good in something before the bad? The order of this thought process is critical: to try and see everything good in an idea before seeing anything bad. While most of us like to think we do, and would therefore self-describe ourselves as optimistic, more often (if we are truly honest with ourselves) we are natural critics (even cynics). Experience brings wisdom, but its collateral damage is that it can jade one against new concepts, turning many of us into Pavlovian skeptics. Whether we openly say it or not, we often think of what might be wrong with someone or something before we try to understand what might be right or good. The temptation and reflex for cynicism is usually more common than a natural responsive optimism. Cynicism is indeed the enemy of optimism. Here's a practical tool for the skeptic or cynic in all of us: the 24x3 rule. The next time you hear an idea for the first time, or meet someone new, try to wait 24 seconds before saying or thinking something negative. This reinforces a foundational skill of good optimists and good leadership. That basic skill is listening. As you gain the ability to listen and pause for a brief 24 seconds before letting the critic in you bubble to the verbal surface, move to the next level and try to do it for 24 minutes. At 24 minutes, you are able to give more considered thought to the idea and think more carefully of the many reasons why it might actually work, why it might be better than what is out there, and why it might just topple conventional wisdom. 24 HOURS 7 DAYS 30 DAYS TOP MAGAZINE ARTICLES Defend Your Research: What Makes a Team Smarter? More Women 1. Branding in the Digital Age: You're Spending Your Money in All the Wrong Places 2. Managing Yourself: A Smarter Way to Network 3. Defend Your Research: The Color Pink Is Bad for Fighting Breast Cancer 4. Why Fair Bosses Fall Behind 5. How Will You Measure Your Life? 6. What's Your Social Media Strategy? 7. All Most Popular » EDITORS' PICKS JODI GLICKMAN Nobody Has Time for Interns RITA MCGRATH On the Pitfalls of Superstitious Learning BILL TAYLOR Great People Are Overrated Save up to 53% off the newsstand price. Subscribe FOLLOW HBR: S ub sc ri be Sign in / Register M y Ac co un t ing Optimism with the 24x3 Rule - Anthony Tjan - Harvard Busines... http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2011/07/learning-optimism-with-the 7/27/2011
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8/6/2019 Learning Optimism With the ..
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Harvard Business Publishing | For Educators | For Corporate Buyers | Visit Harvard Business School
Get daily posts in your inbox | HBR Blog Network
ANTHONY TJAN
Anthony Tjan is CEO, Managing Partner and Founder of the venture capital firm Cue Ball.
An entrepreneur, investor, and senior advisor, Tjan has become a recognized business
builder.
Anthony Tjan
OverloadedCircuits: WhySmart PeopleUnderperform
by EdwardHallowell
$6.95
Buy it now »
EmployeeMotivation: A
Powerful NewModel
by Linda-Eling
Lee, BorisGroysberg, NitinNohria
$6.95
Buy it now »
FEATURED PRODUCTSEMAIL SHARE PRINT
HBR Blog Network
Learning Optimism with the 24x3 Rule9:47 AM Tuesday July 26, 2011 | Comments (14)
One of my greatest mentors was the late Jay Chiat of TBWA
Chiat Day, an iconoclast in the field of advertising with a
constant imagination for possibilities in business and life. Jay
embodied the three traits of a "lucky attitude" that I described
in my last post: humility, intellectual curiosity, and optimism.
Of these three characteristics, it was Jay's optimism which
was perhaps his greatest lesson to me. He inspired people to
embrace optimism — inside themselves, and also, as
importantly, in others. It is a gift to understand how to project,share, and inspire with optimism. It is an even greater act of
generosity to be inspired by optimism from others and to be
willing to receive it.
The capacity to be a natural recipient of ideas and other
peoples' optimism is what makes for the ultimate optimist.
You may be open to experimenting with new things, but do you truly see the good in something
before the bad? The order of this thought process is critical: to try and see everything good in an
idea before seeing anything bad. While most of us like to think we do, and would therefore
self-describe ourselves as optimistic, more often (if we are truly honest with ourselves) we are
natural critics (even cynics). Experience brings wisdom, but its collateral damage is that it can jade
one against new concepts, turning many of us into Pavlovian skeptics. Whether we openly say it or
not, we often think of what might be wrong with someone or something before we try to understand
what might be right or good. The temptation and reflex for cynicism is usually more common than a
natural responsive optimism. Cynicism is indeed the enemy of optimism.
Here's a practical tool for the skeptic or cynic in all of us: the 24x3 rule. The next time you hear an
idea for the first time, or meet someone new, try to wait 24 seconds before saying or thinking
something negative. This reinforces a foundational skill of good optimists and good leadership. That
basic skill is listening. As you gain the ability to listen and pause for a brief 24 seconds before
letting the critic in you bubble to the verbal surface, move to the next level and try to do it for 24
minutes. At 24 minutes, you are able to give more considered thought to the idea and think more
carefully of the many reasons why it might actually work, why it might be better than what is out
there, and why it might just topple conventional wisdom.
24 HOURS 7 DAYS 30 DAYS
TOP MAGAZINE ARTICLES
Defend Your Research: What Makes a Team
Smarter? More Women
1.
Branding in the Digital Age: You're Spending
Your Money in All the Wrong Places
2.
Managing Yourself: A Smarter Way to Network3.
Defend Your Research: The Color Pink Is Bad
for Fighting Breast Cancer
4.
Why Fair Bosses Fall Behind5.
How Will You Measure Your Life?6.
What's Your Social Media Strategy?7.
All Most Popular »
EDITORS' PICKS
JODI GLICKMANNobody Has Time for Interns
RITA MCGRATH
On the Pitfalls of Superstitious Learning
BILL TAYLOR
Great People Are Overrated
Save up to 53% off the newsstand price. Subscribe
FOLLOW HBR:
Subscribe Sign in / Register My Account
ing Optimism with the 24x3 Rule - Anthony Tjan - Harvard Busines... http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2011/07/learning-optimism-with-the
7/27/2011
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More blog posts by Anthony K. Tjan
EMAIL SHARE PRINT DAILY ALERT COMMENTS
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And yes, you should also work towards the ability to wait 24 hours — one single day — before
pondering or verbalizing the cons against something. Of course, most times this will not be
possible. Our minds cannot compartmentalize so easily, nor shut off our past experiences. But the
24x3 rule is a type of reflective meditation for developing a more optimistic approach towards
people and ideas. The simple guideline of 24x24x24 is just a good reminder that a prerequisite of
optimism is to have a willing suspension of disbelief.
This is not saying in any way not to be a healthy critic — it is absolutely essential in business
leadership to be a critic — but rather that inspirational leadership and effective mentorship require a
bite-your-tongue, wait-to-be-a-critic mindset and attitude. Start with the pause button for 24seconds and stretch it towards being able to ponder positively for 24 hours. Mastering the 24x3
rule will make you a more enjoyable and inspirational leader to be around. In increasing your
generosity to receive optimism, you will be rewarded with new possibilities that others have
prematurely dismissed.
More on: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Personal effectiveness
COMMENTS
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Good idea to wait a while before thinking negative thoughts about a new idea, but I think a better practice is
to discipline yourself to think of 5 positive things about a new idea before even turning to the negative. List as
many benefits or advantages as you can, at least 5, and write them down. Push yourself to add as many
positives to your list as you can. An old psychology experiment showed that students with negative attitudestoward the police changed their attitudes after writing an essay on all the positive benefits the police bring to
society.
5 people liked this.
Great read. One thing though: if it's 24x24x24, shouldn't it be 24 cubed?
3 people liked this.
Absolutely true Anthony Tjan. Leg pulling and Negative criticism of everything are hall marks of someespecially in corporate sector in India.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: [email protected]
Absolutely true Anthony Tjan. Leg pulling and Negative criticism of everything are hall marks of some
especially in corporate sector in India.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
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3 people liked this.
ing Optimism with the 24x3 Rule - Anthony Tjan - Harvard Busines... http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2011/07/learning-optimism-with-the
7/27/2011
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E-mail: [email protected]
Absolutely true Anthony Tjan. Leg pulling and Negative criticism of everything are hall marks of some
especially in corporate sector in India.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: [email protected]
Absolutely true Anthony Tjan. Leg pulling and Negative criticism of everything are hall marks of some
especially in corporate sector in India.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: [email protected]
Absolutely true Anthony Tjan. Leg pulling and Negative criticism of everything are hall marks of some
especially in corporate sector in India.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: [email protected]
Hitting the 'pause button' the moment before we open our mouths (or type a response) is... well, let's practice
the 24x24x24 concept here. *grin* As someone who is in the social media industry and was also a fan of Jay
Chiat of T BWA Chiat Day, lamentably I find "optimism" can be sorely lacking in such a critical, constant and
cynical landscape. This construct of 24x24x24 recalls studies into Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, Dr.Martin Seligman's 'learned optimism', and even the practices of The Harvard Negotiation Project's 'Difficult
Conversations'. Here's to the unpretentious attributes of Humility, Intellectual Curiosity, and Optimism.
Thanks, Anthony!
Alana Renfro,
Duality Twitter: serious: silly:
Optimism as open-mindedness? That's a new concept to me.... 24, 23, 22... I must argue that skepticism to
ideas is a healthy response, otherwise we risk gullibility, no? However, after we have committed to an idea,
staying optimistic is a critical skill so that we may persevere!
www.happyhomunculus.com
Tjan has it right on, however, it is imperative to add to or refine new ideas, especially if you are the leader
because the people in any organization are looking to the top one to make the right call. It is excellent to be
optimistic, but it is best to have all information & background and to set the mark that others work towards.
Barry J. Welch Assoc. Director International Trends
ing Optimism with the 24x3 Rule - Anthony Tjan - Harvard Busines... http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2011/07/learning-optimism-with-the
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Sounds very similar to the 10/10/10 rule: before you comment on something important, think how your
response will effect you 10 minutes from now, 10 months from now, and 10 years from now.
Thanks Anthony for the great article. I think the concept of "ultimate optimism" also applies to life and making
friends. You will be much happier if you see everything good in whatever life throws at you before seeing
anything bad; likewise, you'd make more friends if you see everything good in people before you see anything
bad.
Thanks Anthony. So many leaders and consultants tell us to be optimistic, it's great to see an actual tool for
getting us there.
David Kaiser, PhD
Sacred Productivity Coach to C-Level Leaders
www.DarkMatterConsulting.com
Hey, Good to hear from you and thanks for putting up the comment - really appreciate i t.
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