02 / How I Think

Before I even start,
let me understand.

See the picture. Work out the path.

I often see the finished vision before I can see the path to it. Then I want to understand everything that would make it work. This is how I research, seek advice, test ideas and decide where to put my effort. I keep refining the method as I use it.

Start with the future.

I often see the finished vision before I know the path. That gives me something to investigate: what needs to happen, who it is for, and what would make the idea worth pursuing.

Research, then bring it together.

I research in depth, using assisted research alongside my own independent search. I bring the findings into a master report so I can compare sources, examine assumptions and see where more work is needed.

Compare experienced perspectives.

I talk with at least three experienced people and compare their counsel. Differences are useful, and so are points of agreement. I want to understand how they reached their conclusions before deciding what I think.

Test it independently.

I test scenarios, economics, viability and bankability, then look at the long-term consequences. What would make this work? What could undermine it? Who is affected? I want those questions on the table before I commit.

Leave room to change direction.

My commitment depends on what the work reveals. I can redesign an idea, park it or walk away. Finding a reason to change direction is useful information, even when I liked the original picture.

Keep learning from life.

I use experience, including failure, as data. My own experiences and other people’s can reveal patterns and open new threads. Prioritising competing ideas is still a work in progress; choosing what gets my attention next deserves as much thought as starting something new.

The mind I am
working towards.

These six qualities help me pay attention to how I use my mind. I return to them when I need clarity, direction or a way to recover from a setback.

Clear: Understand what I am considering.
Directed: Know what I am working towards.
Coordinated: Bring the different parts of my thinking together.
Quick Recovery: Regain my footing when an idea meets a setback.
Sharp: Notice the distinctions that matter.
Teachable: Stay willing to learn and revise.

A personal philosophy

A Sustainable Tomorrow.

Growing up with opportunity in Nigeria also meant seeing how infrastructure, governance and planning affect everyday life. My experiences made me care about the consequences of decisions, including the ones future generations will have to live with.

I call that concern A Sustainable Tomorrow. It includes the environment, and it also asks whether our institutions and decisions can keep creating value over time.

Notes, questions and unfinished threads.

I’ve made room in the archive for ideas, questions and work in progress. For now, it contains example records and draft placeholders, with each stage labelled.

Explore the thinking archive