Mike Rainone

In my last blog, I discussed the invention of the Post-it note, which came about after 3M scientist Dr. Spencer Silver stumbled upon an adhesive that was not very sticky. That “failed” glue was not what he was looking for at the time, but he recognized that it could be a useful solution—if they could just find the right problem.

This is an example of what I call bottom-of-the-funnel serendipity, because you look at the bottom of the funnel after a solution has dripped out and then see what you can do with it. The serendipity is in the recognition of a connection between the technology and a problem.

There is another kind of serendipity that is at the heart of what genius product creators do. I call it top-of-the-funnel serendipity, since getting the right solution to drop out of the bottom starts with what you put into the top. With just 3 steps, you can increase your odds of top-of-the-funnel serendipity. 

#1: Start with the Problem

With the top-of-the-funnels serendipity, instead of starting with a solution and looking for a relevant problem, you start with a problem and search for possible solutions.

The best product developers start with a well-defined problem. Charles Kettering, inventor and head of research at General Motors, said, “A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” This is like shaping the funnel to seek the right solution.

For example, several years ago, we were working with a Fortune 100 company. They came to our campus here in East Texas for an Immersive Innovation session—three days of intensive brainstorming and collaboration. We began with the problem. They wanted one master key to open all the doors in a building while construction was ongoing. Once construction was complete, though, they didn’t want the key to work anymore. 

From the base problem, we dug deep into the challenges. For example, if somehow the key was lost, they needed to be able to quickly and easily ensure the key wouldn’t work anymore. Keep in mind that there might be hundreds, even thousands of doors in the building, so it wouldn’t be feasible to mechanically change the lock on each door. So we knew traditional lock systems would not be adequate.

With a well-defined problem in mind, we could move on to step #2 and start seeking solutions.

#2: Be Open-Minded

Over the course of our three-day brainstorming session, we unearthed several great solutions and a few wild concepts. The goal was to get the ideas flowing through the funnel, so we could see what would drip out. 

One of the ideas involved using light to recognize a key shape as it was pushed into a lock. As far as we knew, the technology to do this did not exist, but still, we did not discount this solution. This is absolutely critical. 

Too many times I have seen engineers toss a solution because they assume that a certain technology doesn’t exist or can’t work the way you want it to. They are unable to dig past the obvious solution and look for a twist. I am not always sure why hardcore engineers and those classically trained in the sciences are hell-bent on proving that something can’t be done, but it’s a major impediment to innovation.

While I work in an engineering function, I was trained first as a clinical psychologist and later did doctoral work in test and measurement and cognitive science. A clinical psychologist never takes a patient’s words as absolutely true without question. They always look for meaning in a stated “fact.” Often, you discover that “facts” are really just disguised opinions or that they are only facts under certain conditions.

If your first reaction to something is “It can’t be done” or “That’s impossible,” take a pause. Dig deeper into why you think that is true. Over the years, as I’ve worked with engineers and scientists, I’ve discovered that the more I dig into their explanations on why something can’t work, the easier it is to prove them wrong.

Don’t ignore the fundamental physics of the universe, but challenge yourself to believe in the possibilities.

#3: Cast Out for Solutions

After the brainstorming session, at a convention a week later, I walked past a booth for a small electronics company. An optical sensor caught my eye, and a lightbulb went off in my head. I’d just stumbled on the technology that could make our idea for a light-based lock work!

Often, the best breakthroughs are technology based. Having a wide repertoire of technologies to look at enhances the chance that a solution can be found. Working across industries, for instance, is a great way to look for “odd” solutions. The more things you can run through the funnel, the greater the chance the right solution will drip out at the end. So cast a wide net for solutions.

That convention had nothing to do with locks, but it provided the moment of serendipity I needed. I had gone to the convention looking for something. I didn’t know what, but by being prepared with a problem in mind and open to the possibilities, a solution appeared. As the Roman philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Seek and You Will Find

Often, the only thing standing in the way between your problem and a solution is a moment of serendipity. By deeply understandinging your problem, having an open mind, and casting a wide net for potential solutions, you greatly increase your odds for serendipity.

Really, this is problem-solving 101: figure out the problem, believe it can be solved, and search for potential solutions all around you. We all do this already in our day-to-day lives. Being conscious of the process will prime your brain to look for those moments of serendipity.

Good luck and good inventing!

‍