The Takeaways from the Book “Thinking in New Boxes”

Hello, this is the summary of “Thinking in New Boxes” which is built around a five-step approach to creativity and innovation. 

The authors are critising the way of we are thinking. Most of the people tend to think in boxes where we are feeling very comfortable in. However, since there is a continuous change, we need to find new boxes (new business models) to think in. They give some examples from the world like Reuters, Bic, Apple etc. how they changed their boxes and pivoted to a new business model. 

They propose a five steps approach which is depicted below.

The Five-Step Approach

1. Doubt Everything

• Question all assumptions and beliefs, even those that seem “obviously true.”
• This creates mental space for new perspectives.
• Example question: “What if everything we assume about our industry is wrong?”

2. Probe the Possible

• Explore many new potential boxes — new frameworks, hypotheses, or business models.
• Look for inspiration in different industries, sciences, and arts.
• Generate options without judging too quickly.

3. Diverge

• Expand thinking deliberately.
• Brainstorm widely, mix disciplines, and encourage wild ideas.
• The goal is quantity and variety of boxes, not refinement (yet).

4. Converge

• Narrow down and choose the most promising boxes.
• Test them against reality with experiments, data, and prototypes.
• Focus resources on the options with the best potential.

5. Reevaluate Relentlessly

• Never get stuck in one box — the world changes, and so must your assumptions.
• Keep questioning, updating, and replacing boxes.
• Creativity is not a one-time act but a continuous cycle.

In short: Doubt → Probe → Diverge → Converge → Re-evaluate

This cycle is meant to be repeated continuously, so organizations stay adaptable and innovative.