What Are Thinkies?
Thinkies are pattern-matching tools that help you generate creative ideas. Each Thinkie contains a pattern (something you recognize) and a transformation (something you do with that pattern). They're not about producing good ideas directly—they're about producing lots of ideas, some of which might be brilliant.
Pattern Recognition
Thinkies teach you to spot common situations where creative thinking can break through barriers.
Simple Transformations
Each Thinkie provides a specific transformation to apply when you recognize the pattern.
Deferred Judgment
Thinkies separate idea generation from evaluation, a key principle of creative thinking.
How Thinkies Work
- Match the pattern in a situation
- Apply the transformation
- Evaluate the result afterward
Can't/Because
Pattern: "We can't X because Y."
Transform: "When (not Y), then we can X."
"We can't deploy daily because there are too many bugs" → "When we have fewer bugs, we can deploy daily."
Easy Bit
Pattern: You're paralyzed by the magnitude of a problem.
Transform: Pick the absolutely easiest helpful thing to do and do it.
Facing a complex project, start by setting up the simplest component.
Half in Half
Pattern: Someone gives you a date for a scope of work.
Transform: Ask which half they can see in half the time.
"We'll deliver in 6 months" → "Which half can I see in 3 months?"
Thinkie Categories
There are over 50 Thinkies organized into useful categories for different situations:
"Half in Half is my all-time favorite Thinkie. I've made more money consulting with this than any other single technique."
— Kent Beck
"Thinkies have completely changed how I approach difficult problems. The Easy Bit Thinkie alone has helped me break through paralysis countless times."
— Software Engineer
"The beauty of Thinkies is that they give you a structured way to generate unstructured thinking. They're patterns that help you break patterns."
— Product Manager
Thinkies World Conferences
Join the community of creative thinkers exploring and sharing insights about Thinkies.
TWC I
June 4th, 2025
12 Thinkies discussed, dozens of insights collected
Start Using Thinkies Today
Begin with one Thinkie. Practice it until it becomes automatic. Then add another.
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