Recognizing the Proximity Paradox
Think about the secret recipe to making a killing in the restaurant business… The next killing in the restaurant industry needs to be an idea that is not easily conceived of by the current population of restaurateurs. It has to be at some distance from expectations. The more unexpected the success of such a venture, the smaller the number of competitors, and the more successful the entrepreneur who implements the idea.
The Birth of Proximity
Human Nature
Education

The Industrial World
Predictability is no longer a guarantee of success, especially in the face of disruptors capitalizing on new technology to innovate within laggard industries.
Managing Proximity
Distance gives us the perspective we need to find our way around obstacles and reach the top. The same principle applies to innovation and coming up with imaginative new solutions to the challenges we face in business and as creative professionals.
Distance is the tried-and-true antidote to overcoming the Proximity Paradox and rekindling your relationship with your creative self.
Three Fundamental Steps to Overcoming the Proximity Paradox
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Recognize when the Proximity Paradox is at play.
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Accept the fact that you may not be the best person to solve a challenge, and be okay with that. Remember, proximity isn’t a choice. Feeling its effects does not reflect negatively on you or your skills and abilities. It is simply a condition of our minds and our world; one that you have the ability to overcome.
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Create distance by shaking up the way you traditionally tackle a problem or come up with an idea. Look out for tips in an upcoming post and more examples from other innovators. (Plus: spoiler alert, this concept is fleshed out even more in our book, The Proximity Paradox™)
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