We tend to think innovation means chasing the newest technology. At Nintendo, Gunpei Yokoi saw something different. Instead of competing at the fron… - David Epstein

Ideally, intellectual sparring partners “hone each other’s arguments so that they are sharper and better,” Yale historian Paul Sabin wrote. “The opposite happened with Paul Ehrlich and Julian Simon.” As each man amassed more information for his own view, each became more dogmatic, and the inadequacies in their models of the world more stark.

We think more resources lead to better ideas.

The research shows the opposite.

When options are limited, your brain stops coasting and starts searching.

If you want a better solution, give yourself less to work with.

One study showed that early career specializers jumped out to an earnings lead after college, but that later specializers made up for the head start by finding work that better fit their skills and personalities.