Companies that are successful have smart leaders. Certainly critics may question whether a specific decision was the correct or cleverest thing to do, but will anyone wonder a leader’s actual IQ. Yet smart executives create some quite ill considered (we will call them dumb) tactical mistakes that may cost even their business’ viability.

Famous examples of bad business decisions center on inventions. One such now notorious example is The Eastman Kodak company, legendary for creating the first digital camera in the 70’s, they chose not to pursue for fear that it would cannibalize their 90% market share of the film company. 2 decades later, after the telephone began to take off, they realized the magnitude of their error, and spent decades (unsuccessfully) challenging Bell’s patents.

Lateral thinkers have an ability to comprehend some assumptions of which people aren’t actively aware. Riddles are the mystery to train, not just children, but also adults seeking to develop thinking abilities, the way to break old, unconscious, cultural assumptions which may blind them to potential, solutions that are broader. As with anything, new thoughts and behaviors need training, and riddles provide that — practice at thinking.

There is one thing riddles good at — provide laughter, and aids creativity.

We see business as deadly serious and life or death. We define our value and worth. This inhibits our capacity to our livelihood may require of us. Rarely do we find ourselves faced with the decision to hire or fire, divest or to invest, to retire or get — and also break into peals of laughter. Yet, a lighter bit provides greater latitude for ideas that are first. In order to work smarter is original alternatives, and a daily dose of riddles to break old, limiting assumptions, supplying inventive.