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Seeing beyond the event horizon
In 20th century physics, the outer edge of a black hole was identified as the event horizon. This is the region where the gravitational pull is so strong it overpowers everything. Even light cannot escape – hence the term.
This incredible force of gravity is not limited to physics. It also applies to our habits, thought processes, organizational cultures, etiquette, even how we interpret facts. All of these “pulls” limit our ability to innovate. They place limits on what we think is possible. Even Einstein recognized the gravity of the situation. He said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
In the 19th century French painter Georges Seurat broke with stereotypical representation through a new technique called pointillism. He applied color in small dots of different pigments – never using the specific color he was trying to achieve. Up close, the viewer saw nothing but the dots. At a distance, the dots blended into recognizable images. 
Printing presses use a similar process. (Place a magnifying glass over a printed photo and see.) Current printing techniques normally use only four colors (yellow, cyan, magenta and black) to represent a broad spectrum.
Apply Georges Seurat’s color theory to solving problems. Never select the specific color you are trying to create. Never initially address the problem you are trying to solve. Play all around it first. Introduce the real question later. If you address the question directly, the obvious answer may be only a degree or two from the previous solution. Variations on a theme may be clever, but not innovative. This is what Frans Johansson defines as Intersectional Thinking in his book The Medici Effect. Innovation changes how people see things. If you engage your imagination first through playfulness, when the actual question is addressed, new ideas will appear from a fresh point of view - a different arrangement of dots.
The left brain controls our thinking through process. It deals in linearity, sequential patterns, logic and objectivity. The right brain deals without rigid focus. It deals with space, relationships and connections. In seeking innovative solutions, sometimes you have to stand too close before you appreciate the view from a distance. You have to balance the near and the far to see the light.
Chas Martin
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