Breaking the Mold: How Thinking Differently Leads to Extraordinary Results

We live in a world where we are constantly encouraged to achieve extraordinary results. It’s a world where we are expected to be faster, more creative, and innovative—basically, better than everyone else. The questions and challenges remain the same, but the solutions and methods are constantly evolving. What worked for us in the past may not take us where we want to go next. The key is simple: to achieve results we've never had before, we need to start doing things we've never done before. But how exactly can we achieve extraordinary results? Before answering that, it’s important to look at the obstacles that stand in the way of success.

When businesses face problems, they typically respond in one of two ways: either they double down on what they're already doing, or they scale back. Rarely do we see companies trying something completely different. Studies have shown that when faced with challenges, only about 5% of people think about doing things differently, while the remaining 95% continue down the same path, solving nothing. The reason behind this behavior is often referred to as "tunnel vision"—a cognitive bias that limits our ability to explore new solutions.

If we want to have results we never had before, we need to start doing things we never did before! Because if we do what everybody else is doing, we will get the results everybody else is getting.

Chris Kunze-Levy

One of the most well-known examples of tunnel vision is Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft. In 2007, after Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, Ballmer publicly dismissed its potential. He argued that the iPhone was too expensive, lacked a keyboard, and wouldn’t appeal to business customers. He believed his products were superior and that his pricing structure, a fraction of the iPhone’s cost, was unbeatable. History, however, has shown that Jobs' vision completely reshaped the tech industry.

But why do we fall into this tunnel-vision trap? Scientists explain that thinking requires significant energy, so our brains often switch into “self-protection mode,” conserving energy for more pressing situations. This makes us default to thinking "inside the box"—sticking to familiar, well-defined boundaries. These boundaries, whether legal, technological, or social, seem large and comfortable, but they are actually much smaller than the potential we have to innovate.

The boundaries we work within are often shaped by external factors—industry standards, norms, and expectations that go unquestioned. We follow these norms because they seem safe, even though the word "norm" simply means "ordinary" or "average." If we continue to follow the crowd, we will get the same "normal" results as everyone else. And yet, we’re expected by our employers, peers, and even ourselves to achieve extraordinary outcomes. So, how do we do this?

To exceed our goals, we need to break free from our narrow operational boxes. We need to step beyond the established norms of our industries and embrace the creative space where innovation thrives. This is where we can truly make a difference—a space without limits. If Steve Jobs hadn’t pushed beyond the industry standards, our world would be quite different today, and there are countless other examples of innovation happening when people break free from the expected.

Consider Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA. In 1943, at the age of 17, Kamprad started a small mail-order business selling items like pens, tablecloths, and nylon stockings in his village in Sweden. Over the next few years, he expanded into furniture, producing pieces locally. But the true turning point came when Kamprad decided to disrupt the traditional furniture industry. Rather than selling ready-made furniture, he offered products for self-assembly, allowing customers to pick up items at a warehouse. If Kamprad hadn’t stepped outside the box, the world might never have known the iconic IKEA furniture we now use in our homes.

Real innovation and business growth often happen when we step away from the norms and the majority. If we continue doing what everyone else is doing, we risk blending into the background and eventually getting stuck. But it’s up to you to be part of the 5% who break the mold and lead the way to new, creative solutions. Yes, taking risks and breaking the status quo can be challenging, and there are no guarantees of success, but the alternative is stagnation—becoming another part of the 95% who simply follow the crowd.

In today’s world, opportunities are abundant for those who think differently, challenge the status quo, and dare to innovate. So, ask yourself: What are you willing to do to achieve extraordinary results? Breaking the mold may just be the first step to a future filled with limitless potential.