The Pursuit of the Uncomfortable and Unfamiliar. This is my slogan, my mantra, and the idea that guides me more than any other. But where does it come from?
It isn't a homage to some motivational quote or a romantic allusion to literature. Instead, it reflects the intersection of human interaction and growth—a nod to social psychology. And it all begins with a lesson from biology.
In the field of biology, the Edge Effect describes a phenomenon that occurs at the transitionary overlap of two or more distinct ecosystems—or "ecotones." Examples include the meeting of grassland and forest or mountain and desert. These environments harbor increased biodiversity and contain species uniquely adapted to these boundary areas. Accordingly, the species in these mixed environments adopt characteristics that differentiate them from other, related species, in the adjacent unblended surroundings. Think of the Bull Shark (carcharhinus leucas) which can traverse saltwater seas and freshwater rivers.
In the field of psychology, the Edge Effect serves as a metaphor that alludes to collisions of unfamiliarity and diversity. Like the collision of different natural environments, it occurs when our knowledge and experiences collide with the different knowledge and experiences of other places and people. These collisions can be differences in culture, experiences, religion, and expertise among countless other categories.
In his book, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, Professor Adam Grant explores how the most successful professionals and creatives are those who cultivate experience in multiple domains. He uses examples of Nobel Prize winners and world-renowned fashion designers to illustrate how our unique collisions empower our understanding and creativity.
In a study conducted by a team at Michigan State University, researchers set out to discover how Nobel Prize-winning scientists differ from their non-award-winning companions. They found that while both groups had deep knowledge in their respective fields of study, Nobel Prize-winning scientists were more involved in the arts than their less accomplished counterparts. Winners were more likely to explore endeavors in painting, the performing arts, or other expressive outlets—outlets quite opposite from the methodological mechanisms of science. Grant adds that a study of thousands of Americans revealed a similar pattern between success and artistic immersion among entrepreneurs and investors.
In another study led by Professor Frédéric Godart, researchers conducted a correlational study to compare the success of fashion designers with their time spent abroad. Godart and his team discovered three trends: First, time working abroad was a predictor of whether the collections of designers would be successful. Second, the more foreign the culture to the designer, the more their experiences contributed to their creativity. The final contributing predictor of success was the depth of their experiences—how ingrained and explorative they were in these foreign environments.
When we immerse ourselves in unfamiliar experiences and collide with diversity, our frames of perception are challenged—it pressures us to modify the rules and laws that govern our thinking. This empowers us to approach common problems from new unique perspectives which in turn leads us to find new unique solutions. One of the most famous examples of this phenomenon is the Italian astronomer Galileo, whose early experiences as an artist led him to some of science's most important discoveries.
As a youth, Galileo had aspirations of becoming a painter, leading him to study under prominent Italian Renaissance artists. However, pressured by his father, he switched to studying medicine but eventually dropped out of school to pursue his interest in mathematics. From 1589 to 1610 he served as a chair of mathematics first in Pisa, then in Padua. It wasn’t until 1610 at the age of 45 that Galileo turned to the study of astronomy and first began his observations of the moon, stars, and planets.
Galileo built his first telescope in 1609 and in 1610 published his first observations of the moon, Jupiter, and the Milky Way in Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger). He observed that the moon had mountains and craters, that the Milky Way had a multitude of stars, and that Jupiter had four orbiting satellites—all of which now serve as foundational truths of science.
Galileo’s discoveries were as much a result of his expertise in science as a result of his knowledge of mathematical techniques for drawing with linear perspective, and his artistic understanding of light and shadow. His understanding of reflected light allowed him to illustrate the moon’s mountains, craters, and shine. He used these mathematical and artistic concepts to create sketches that challenged conventional theories of an unblemished moon. Ultimately, like the findings of the Michigan State study, it was Galileo's artistic proficiency that contributed to his world-famous scientific success—his ability to channel knowledge, experience, and inspiration from other disciplines to progress in another.
Leveraging the Edge Effect calls for us to collide with the uncomfortable and unfamiliar—to cultivate diverse experiences that challenge our preconceptions. When we immerse ourselves in different cultures, histories, and stories with an open mind, we collide with experiences that force us to rethink convention. These collisions expand our knowledge, empower us to think creatively, and enable our capacity for abstract problem-solving. We become more dynamic like the species of the edge—dynamic with unique skills and perspectives because of our ability to thrive in different environments. It’s this dynamic ability that lies at the core of famous scientists, renowned designers, and those whose works go on to dramatically change the world.
The empowerment of the Edge Effect isn’t solely reserved for the famous, the elite, or individuals of exceptional intelligence. It can be leveraged by anyone. The world is full of beautiful diversity, one need not even travel to the ends of the earth to find it. It can be found in the works of artists, in the words of poets, on neighbors' front porches, or on the deck of a local coffee shop. The collisions needed to inspire and empower us as thinkers and creators exist all around us, we need only pursue them.
This is The Pursuit of the Uncomfortable and Unfamiliar.
Comments