Anyone of a certain age was brought up on the 3 R’s of education.

The famous (though clearly incorrectly referenced…go figure!!) R’s – Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.

These were defined as the basic three foundations of learning. They have been the staple educational cornerstone in many countries for umpteen decades.

But, did you know they have a thinking equivalent?

And not just any thinking. The highest and the best. The elite level thinking.

If you didn’t know, worry not. In this post I’m going to reveal them to you so you can start developing them too.

Let us begin the great mindset lesson. Three is the magic number to learn. Three elite ways to use thinking to bring out the very best.

One, two, three….let’s go!

1. Reasoning.

Even crazy ideas aren’t that mad.

This is the foundation of pinnacle thinking. All ideas conceived, no matter how unlikely or fantastical, are treated to this triple approach. And the initial entry point mentally is where any concept, any possibility, is first processed by the mind. It is where it is fairly considered and evaluated.

It experiences reasoning.

Reasoning is the sensible perspective applied by the mind. Whether the idea is whacky or wonderful, reasoning is activated to ensure solid appraisal. Some years ago on the business investment programme Dragon’s Den on BBC TV, an inventor sought funds from established business gurus for cardboard garden furniture. It didn’t happen.

This is because of every pitfall the creator had not thought through about the product. It seemed like a good idea. It was novel. The cost was low. It was environmentally friendly. And not to mention, it was innovative. In their mind.

No reasoning had been employed. You could probably guess half of the problems the Dragons identified. But, if you get carried away with your ‘big bright new thing’ exciting your head (and future pockets), you will never see sense.

This is also relevant with bonkers ideas. At first they seem insane without a cat in hell’s chance of making it. Have a think. Switch on reasoning. See the issue it could be solving. Perhaps the concept only requires a tweak to fit into another field. It could just be the gap in a market no-one else ever noted. Nothing is dead until reason says so.

Reasoning is where an open mind meets a sensible brain.

2. Reflection.

Ever thought about something you first weren’t sure about, then changed your mind?

It’s the classic ‘let it sink in’. This is what occurs when we receive information that’s far and above our norm. Big bad news or big brilliant news. The mind asks for a time out and wants to do some inner homework before it offers its opinion.

That downtime is when the mind slips into reflective mode. It ponders and considers the info, idea, proposal, seriousness, etc. A kind of top to bottom mental review to capture what you really feel/believe/understand.

We do that on less magnificent options – what will happen if we go for promotion or change the car. Large enough a decision for us, but not earth shattering.

Elite level minds reflect as standard but elevate the scenario. They will practise reflection over opening a brand new business, how to fit in ultra marathon training while working a 45 hour week as an analyst, and financial planning for the coming five years if they were to move their savings into short term office space rental.

Sure it’s more mega stuff, but the principal remains sturdy.

Reflection is correction, connection, or condemning a possibility by deeper, calmer contemplation about what it is and what it can mean.

3. Responding.

However you start, you have to finish.

And at the end of any idea or concept, after all thinking is done, has to be a decision. Before you go for it or pull it, you have to land on one mental response that decides one way or the other.

Elite thinkers are highly adept at quality responses.

They reason that the idea is sound. That is followed up with reflecting on how it could look, develop, who it could be for, where to pitch it etc. Those two completed and the mind made up, they are comfortable at the step most become paralysed in taking.

They respond – they take action. The move it forwards. Result? Progress with a capital ‘P’.

Now there is a proviso. That response could equally be they will kill the project. Maybe it’s too soon for such an endeavour. It might be too expensive to fund. Preferences and trends are changing. Various factors (they they have identified and thought through) in the groundwork is saying it won’t work on the ground.

Hey, but it may turn out a stunning 180 flip. It could be scaled up or dedicated to a certain type of person. It might begin small with a soft launch first before the explosion onto the wider stage. Relabelling it might change perceptions and so on.

Whether it’s a big thumbs up or down, rest assured elite minds will respond to the idea and the thinking they have invested, with surefooted, confident responses. No waiting, no pontificating. The iron is hot…or cold, nothing in between.

So, where does that leave you?

4. What’s the Big Idea?

You’re not reading this post for fun, right?

At the back of your mind you want to learn how big thinking is done. Because you’ve got something to get done. Asking that girl out you’ve fallen for at the office. Quitting work to be a vlogger. Wanting to tell your parents that you won’t be going into the family business. And bigger still.

Well, you now know there’s no mega secrets to mega thinking. No inner sanctum the great leaders and business moguls in history were members of with the keys to riches. You don’t have to hold your nerve. No poker face is required or working on the art of bluff.

Just these three R’s – the reasonable, rational, reflexes of the mind. They hold true whether it’s a city you are building or simply bridges with people you need to get back.

3R’s that will help you choose the right and best path…the elite one.

Photo attribution – Free to use under Pixabay content license by RyanMcGuire.