Fast and Focused Meets Big Picture
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
Your toddler's brain is fast and focused. Your job is to connect the dots.
Chip Conley joined Airbnb at 52, surrounded by 26-year-olds. He discovered something fascinating from neuroscience: younger brains have 'fluid intelligence' - fast, focused, excellent at problem-solving and linear thinking. Older brains have 'crystallized intelligence' - connecting dots, seeing the bigger picture, thinking systemically.
Both are valuable. Neither is complete alone. The magic happens when they work together.
Your toddler is all fluid intelligence. They're fast. They're focused. They can solve the immediate problem with remarkable efficiency. Get the cookie. Reach the toy. Make the tower taller. But they can't see the consequences three steps ahead. They can't connect why being tired leads to being cranky leads to not enjoying the playdate.
That's your job. You're the crystallized intelligence. You see the bigger picture. You connect their 3pm skipped nap to their 6pm meltdown. You understand why eating only crackers today means they'll be starving by dinner.
You're not smarter than your child. You have different intelligences. When you stop trying to make them think like you, and instead honor what each of you brings, collaboration happens. Fast and focused, meet big picture.
PM Theme: Working with cross-functional teams
Parenting Theme: Understanding how your child thinks
“A younger brain has fluid intelligence, tends to be fast and focused, really good at problem solving, very good at linearity in terms of looking at things. As you get older... you're going from left brain to right brain more adeptly. There's a little bit less focus, a little more holistic thinking, systemic thinking, connecting the dots.”Chip Conley · 00:21:59
“On a team when you have older brains connecting the dots, thinking broadly, peripherally, younger team members being really fast and focused, and being able to think linearly how to get things done, that combination can either be successful or not. When it's successful, it's brilliant.”Chip Conley · 00:22:36
