A Whole New Mind: The Six Senses (Symphony)

The 3rd of Pink's Six Senses: Symphony.

Dan Pink talks about taking a drawing course—drawing on the right side of the brain, which I also took (see I told you we were somehow related). He defines symphony as an ability to synthesize or create new wholes from pieces. He calls it symphony because musical conductors are masters at creating symphony or synthesis…getting a herd of musicians to hit the right note at the right time. He notes that the real value in symphonic thinking is being able to see relationships and putting two, seemingly disparate things together. In fact, he uses Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as an example—exactly the same example I’ve used for many years to explain how iNtuitive thinkers process information (big picture, connectedness). The power of metaphor, he notes, is the heart of creation and understand and any good executive coach will tell you that’s how s/he helps clients re-see their realities. My favorite quote is from one of my favorite comedians of all time, Sid Caesar, “’The guy who invented the wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was a genius. (p.142).’” Hope you read this to see the final page of this chapter as Pink makes his point in a unique way.