The Seven Secrets of How to Think Like a Rocket Scientist

1. Introduction

Part I. Dream

2. Imagine It

3. Work on the Big Picture

4. Aim High

5. BS!

6. Brainstorm

7. Create Desire

8. Tell a Story

9. Sleep on It

10. Think JFK

Part II. Judge

11. Get Real

12. Play Games

13. Simulate It

14. Run a Thought Experiment

15. Know Your Limits

16. Weigh Ideas

Part III. Ask

17. Ask Dumb Questions

18. Ask Big Questions

19. Ask “What If?”

20. Ask: “Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral?”

21. Ask Just One More Question

Part IV. Check

22. Prove Yourself Wrong

23. Inspect for Defects

24. Have a Backup Plan

25. Do a Sanity Test

26. Check Your Arithmetic

27. Know the Risks

28. Question Your Assumptions

Part V. Simplify

29. Keep It Simple, Stupid

30. Draw a Picture

31. Make a Mock-up

32. Name the Beasts

33. Look at the Little Picture

34. Do the Math

35. Apply Occam’s Razor

Part VI. Optimize

36. Minimize the Cost

37. Minimize the Time

38. Be Mr. Spock

39. Make It Faster, Better, Cheaper (But Not All Three!)

40. Know When Bigger Is Better

41. Let Form Follow Function

42. Pick the Best People

43. Make Small Improvements

Part VII. Do

44. Learn by Doing

45. Sharpen Your Axe

46. Correct It on the Way

47. Do Something

48. Don’t Ignore Trends

49. Work on Your Average Performance

50. Look Behind You

51. Learn from Your Mistakes

52. Epilogue

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Avainsanat: SCIENCE / General SCI000000