Author

Chris Dunlop

Be Like a Toddler

In the world of innovation and problem-solving, some of the most profound lessons come from unexpected places. One of those lessons can be found in the famous marshmallow challenge:

In 2006, Peter Skillman, then at Palm Inc., devised a simple but revealing experiment. The challenge?

Build the tallest free-standing structure using:

• 20 sticks of spaghetti
• a yard of tape
• a yard of string
• one marshmallow.

The marshmallow had to be placed on top, and the teams had 18 minutes to complete the task.

Peter Skillman

Former Palm Inc. executive who devised the marshmallow challenge.

The Competitors

Skillman ran this experiment with various groups:

• Business School Students: Experts in strategy and planning.
• Lawyers: Known for their analytical skills.
• CEOs: Experienced in leadership and decision-making.
• Kindergarteners: Just kids being kids.

Who do you think performed the best?

The Surprising Winners

To the astonishment of many, the kindergarteners consistently outperformed the adults. But why?

• No Hierarchy: Unlike adult teams that wasted time establishing roles and leadership, kids just started building.
• Rapid Prototyping: Children naturally adopted a 'fail fast, fail often' approach. They built, tested, and rebuilt quickly.
• No Fear of Failure: Kids weren’t worried about looking silly or making mistakes. Each collapse was an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Focus on Doing: While adults spent precious minutes planning and discussing, children were hands-on from the start.
• Iterative Improvement: Each attempt built on the lessons of the last, leading to taller and more stable structures.

The Adult Approach

In contrast, adult teams often fell into common traps:

• Analysis Paralysis: They spent too much time planning and not enough time doing.
• The "Ta-Da" Moment: Adults typically used all their materials to build one "perfect" structure, only to watch it collapse under the marshmallow’s weight.
• Assumption Challenges: Many assumed the marshmallow was light, only to realise too late that it was heavier than expected.

The Lesson

The marshmallow challenge teaches us that in complex, uncertain environments – much like the current AI landscape – success often comes not from careful planning but from rapid experimentation, iterative learning, and a willingness to fail and adapt quickly.

Contrast with AI

Now, let’s contrast this with how most adults approach the AI revolution. We’re planning. We’re strategising. We’re talking. And talking. And talking some more. But are we actually building anything?

My AI Adventure: Learning by Doing

While the world has been caught up in endless debates about AI’s potential and perils, I’ve been quietly channelling my inner toddler. Here’s what happens when you stop talking and start doing:

• Solving Real Problems: I created an entire stamp collecting game to tackle my own habit-forming challenges.

Everytime I complete a task, I get a stamp. It's a simple concept but it works.

This project has involved hundreds of generated images, thousands of lines of code, and countless hours of learning and iterating.

The ThinkTank

I've learned a new programming language (Next JS) and managed to create the think tank from scratch!

New Thinking Paradigms

The use of AI, helped to clarify thinking on how to quantify the value of my own consulting services and consider what it's like from a client's perspective.

• Consistent Creation: Running a think tank and pumping out four articles a week isn’t just about quantity—it’s about staying in the flow of constant creation and ideation.
• Visual Exploration: Over 10,000 images generated on MidJourney!
• Deep Dive: Six hours a day immersed in AI. Not talking about it, not planning for it, but actually using it.

This all led me to one exciting conclusion:

My Takeaways

So, what’s the secret sauce? It’s simple: Be like a toddler.

• Curiosity Over Caution: Approach AI with wide-eyed wonder. Every new tool, every new application is a playground waiting to be explored.
• Learning Through Play: Don’t be afraid to experiment. Break things. Put them back together. That’s how real learning happens.
• Fearless Creation: Toddlers don’t worry about perfection. They create for the joy of creation. Adopt this mindset in your AI journey.
• Rapid Iteration: Fall down seven times, stand up eight. Each "failure" is just a step towards your next big breakthrough.
• Collaborative Spirit: Just as toddlers naturally share and build together, embrace the collaborative potential of AI. Share your creations, learn from others, and grow together.