The Art of Unexpected Solutions

The Art of Unexpected Solutions: Using lateral thinking to find breakthroughs

The unexpected has always shaped our lives and our society, and today its influence is more visible than ever. Chance and luck (which is often underestimated) have redirected history, sparked discoveries, and continue to shape modern events. For example, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 was a chance event that ignited World War I. Without that unexpected moment, the 20th century would have unfolded very differently. Furthermore

Alexander Fleming’s accidental observation of mold killing bacteria led to penicillin, saving millions of lives.
The fall of the Berlin Wall was triggered by a miscommunication during a press conference. It led to the collapse of the Cold War order.
Viagra was accidentally discovered during clinical trials for an angina treatment. Researchers noted its unexpected side effect and the drug was repurposed for a more popular use.

These examples show how luck and serendipity have repeatedly redirected history’s course.

On a personal level, unexpected events shape us and our life’s direction. Many people’s most defining moments are those they never planned for: a job lost that forces a new career path, a chance encounter that becomes a lifelong relationship, or a sudden illness that changes priorities.

In The Art of Unexpected Solutions, world-leading innovation expert Paul Sloane reveals how you can create conditions that favour unexpected breakthroughs and use them to get ahead in business and in your everyday life. What matters is not just what happens, but how we respond. Resilience and flexibility turn misfortune into growth, whereas denial and rigidity magnify problems. The unexpected is both a test and a teacher. This book shows how you can better prepare to face the unknown rather than fear it.

Some Early Reviews on Amazon

Paul Sloane is a recognised expert on lateral thinking as a tool for success, and in this engaging book he brings together the benefits of lateral thinking combined with the potential upside of the unexpected. A thoughtful, practical contribution to learning on leadership and innovation, and the making of lemonade from lemons. PCharles

I found this book extremely interesting and useful. It’s full of eye-opening statistics, examples and information, and Sloane writes in a direct style that thankfully avoids management speak / jargon. You can tell that a huge amount of experience and reflection has been distilled to create it, and the result is clear, entertaining and thought-provoking. I recommend it to anyone interested in shaking up their thinking, either in business or more generally. Amazonienne

This book is well laid out, easy to read and very practical in the way it offers help. And yet it covers an extensive range of opportunities to improve your business and/or personal life in often completely new and overlooked areas. Martin W.

Press coverage and articles from the book.

Why do Great Ideas from Successful Companies Fail? – Fast Company

Create the Ultimate Conditions for Major Business Breakthroughs – i invest

Make Space for Productive Boredom – CEO World

How the World’s Top Companies use Experimentation to Outlearn Uncertainty – The New York Observer.

The Curiosity Hour can lead to Business Breakthroughs – Smartbrief

Why we Should Disdain Certainty and Control – Interview with Bertrand Jouvenot

Why the Best Business Ideas often start as Mistakes – Kogan Page

Video of interview with Shay Grewal – on BBC Radio London.

The Curiosity Dividend – Irish Tech News

Podcast interviews

With Bobby Kerr on Down to Business

With Marc Kramer on Best Business Minds

With Alan Hosking on HR Future