How often do you as Project Manager think out of the box?

I have a strong appreciation for standards and historical knowledge, so I naturally start there first. But many of the issues I encounter are unique. In those cases, I try to approach it with a beginner’s mind. I absolutely love this and try to apply it in all areas of my life.

Shoshin is a word from Zen Buddhism that means “beginner’s mind.” It’s essentially the practice of letting go of preconceived ideas in an effort to be open to learning. When we approach a situation with a child-like curiosity and desire to learn, we are more likely to generate creative, potentially better solutions than limiting ourselves to solutions exclusively based on past experiences.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."
—Shunryu Suzuki