Be more like a fly and less like a bee

Be more like a fly and less like a beeBe more like a fly and less like a beeImagine a glass bottle with its base pointed toward a light. If you put half a dozen bees and flies into the bottle, which species would find their way out first?Most people assume the answer is bees. After all, bees are known for their intelligence. They canlearnhighly complex tasks- such as lifting or sliding a cap to access a sugar solution in a lab- andteachwhat they learned to other bees.But when it comes to finding their way out of the bottle, the bees intelligence gets in their way. The bees love the light Theyll keep bumping up against the base of the bottle- located at the light source- until they die of exhaustion or hunger. In contrast, the flies disregard the call of the light, as Maurice Maeterlinck writes inThe Life of the Bee. They flutter wildly hither and thither until they stumble upon the opening at the other end of the bottle that restores their liberty.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow La dders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIn life, most of us have been conditioned to act like bees- we platzdeckchen a goal and try to achieve that goal. Growing up, we studied for a grade, a win on the field, or the approval of our teacher, parents, or coach. As adults, we set sales targets and revenue goals we look for promotions and pay bumps and we swipe right and left in search of the perfect partner.But the more we chase outcomes, the more outcomes act like mercury- slippery and elusive. The desire for a specific outcome can weigh us down and handicap us. Like the bees, we become blinded by the light.If I try to write articles with the goal of making them go viral, I inevitably fail. I end up aiming for the lowest common denominator and chasing the illusion of mass likeability. My writing suffers as a result.If I step onto the stage to give a keybedrngnise with the goal of pleasing everyone in the audience, I cave under pressure, become awkward, and begin stumbling over my words. Its only when I forget about the outcome and focus instead on the process of writing or speaking that I end up producing quality work (and have a lot more fun while Im at it).With an output-focused approach, success is the goal. With an input-focused approach, success is a consequence. The psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, who wrote one ofmy favorite books of all time, said it best Dont aim at success- the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. Success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think of it.Consider juggling. Contrary to popular wisdom, juggling isnt about catching the ball. As Seth Godinexplains, juggling is more about throwing the ball. But most beginners are too hung up on avoiding failure. They lunge back and forth and twist themselves into awkward positions, all to avoid dropping the ball. Their focus instead should be on the inputs, not the output. If y ou throw well, Godin says, the catches will take care of themselves. By taking the pressure off of the outcome, you get better at your craft.Focusing on inputs has another upside You avoid the wild swings of misery and euphoria that come with chasing outcomes. Desire, as entrepreneur Naval Ravikant put it, is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want. You end up like the hard-working bees who zero in on the seemingly obvious exit that is ultimately their undoing.With an input-focused mindset, youre free to change your destination. Goals can help you focus, but that focus can turn into tunnel vision if you refuse to budge or pivot from your initial path like bees bumping up against the base of the bottle. You might set out to develop high-blood pressure medication, but pivot to curing erectile dysfunction when the participants in the clinical trials report a strange side effect (as Pfizer did with Viagra).The best paths in life often arent the most o bvious ones. Its only when we give ourselves permission to fly to the edges and explore the peripheries that we end up finding the best path forward.Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned law professor and bestselling author.Click hereto download a free copy of his e-book, The Contrarian Handbook 8 Principles for Innovating Your Thinking. Along with your free e-book, youll get the Weekly Contrarian - a newsletter that challenges conventional wisdom and changes the way we look at the world (plus access to exclusive content for subscribers only).This article originally appeared on Ozan Varol.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people