How to Make Your Own Luck
If I were to have a spiritual leader it would be the molecular scientist Stuart Kauffman. When Kauffman set out to explain the molecular reactions in the primordial soup he probably never imagined he was writing a self-help book for Lisa Prince. However, his “adjacent possible” theory is now my guiding force for becoming unstuck and possibly the number one piece of advice I pass on to all my friends. This theory transforms how I think about luck and how ideas happen (or don’t happen).
The theory goes like this: Two molecules adjacent to each other in the primordial soup combine to create a new combination. This new combination reacts with another molecule to produce a further new combination and the possibilities go on . . . and on and on. The only place where innovation can happen is where two new molecules are next to each other for the first time. This is the “adjacent possible.” The adjacent possible has two important implications for ideas and innovation: 1. Innovation only happens on the edges of what we are doing—where existing combinations meet new ones. 2. The possibility for innovation is finite; it’s only as big as our edges.
To fully unpack the benefits of this theory let’s imagine our lives as small kidney-shaped ponds. The places where new ideas can happen is around the shoreline of our pond. This is the innovation zone. Perhaps sediments from our pond water will reshape the bank. Or perhaps the corn-dog grass will die and fuel a new generation of mayfly. Over time all the possible shore, corn-dog, and mayfly combinations will have happened. Our ponds will be out of ideas. To keep innovating, the pond will now need to sprout a tributary. Opening up a new shoreline and new possibilities. This is the adjacent possible in action.
One Thing Leads to Another . .
We see the adjacent possible unfolding all the time. It’s the classic tale of “one thing leads to another” or the big break story. Both Money Mark and Harrison Ford are adjacent possible success stories. Money Mark, the longtime collaborator with the Beastie Boys, got his big break mending a broken fence for the band. A literal one. The fence mending led to studio building, which led to music sharing, which led to a long-term creative partnership.
Harrison Ford’s journey is similar although it starts with a door, not a fence, in Francis Ford Coppola’s house, which led to kitchen coffee chats, which led to a new friendship with a frequent visitor, the young George Lucas, which led to a small acting gig, then a big acting gig, and the rest is history. Each of these outcomes is the adjacent possible in action. Both Money Mark and Harrison Ford were expanding their shoreline at each step, making room for their new molecular combinations. We could just enjoy these stories and move on, but applying the adjacent possible theory prompts two important questions to help each of us make more of our own luck, and to increase our chances of new ideas.
1) Are new ideas not happening for me because I have run out of possibilities with my current shoreline?
2) What one thing could I do to expand my shoreline?
Your pond may just need a tributary. To everyone reading this email, know that you are part of my expanded shoreline. You are my adjacent possible. And I can be yours.
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