We live repeating the same patterns. These patterns can come from habits, but these patterns can also come from those who have come before us. For example, if you saw poison ivy as a child, you would know not to touch it, as generations of people before you have warned of the uncomfortable rash it causes.

These repeated patterns can be helpful in both businesses and for individuals. They allow us to be more efficient and reduce decision-making time. However, when looking to innovate, these patterns, if not challenged, can inhibit creativity.

As an example, imagine a circus. What do you see? Many of us will imagine large animals or a ring leader. This interpretation is based on those repeated patterns. We have been told repeatedly what a circus looks like and what it should be. However, while traditional circuses like the one described have struggled financially, there is one circus that has seen extreme success: Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soliel looked at the circus and asked, “What exactly is a circus, and what is necessary to its success?” They realized that the circus is ultimately a show to wow and amaze people, and traditional methods like using animals were unnecessary.

Each industry has rules or guidelines that we feel we need to follow, even though they may not apply to the present situation. One way to create something truly innovative is to challenge one of those rules or guidelines, looking for a more efficient, profitable, or beneficial result. But how do you do that? Think like an alien.

When thinking like an alien, you should look at the problem and imagine you are an alien who just arrived on Earth. You have no background of Earth’s customs, traditions, or the intricacies of how society works. Then think about what solutions you would come up with and what questions you would ask.

Let’s take an example. Say you are working on a problem, “Parking is extremely variable leading to a lot of wasted space” As an alien, you may ask several questions. “Why are lots and parking spaces shaped the way they are?” “Does a parking lot have to serve one use?” You may even question why we have cars in the first place.

Notice how these questions challenge assumptions made about parking? You can then take these questions and expand on them. Like question two may lead you to ask, “Can we add solar panels or a basketball court to have the parking lot have dual-use?” or “Can we commission local artists to showcase artwork on the lot?” Thinking like an alien to challenge these assumptions can lead to more ground-breaking solutions.

So why should we think like aliens now? We are currently going through a boom of entrepreneurship. In the U.S., over 4.2 million businesses applications were submitted between Q1 and Q3 of 2021, the largest total through September since the U.S. Census began keeping records in 2004, an increase of 27.1% since last year. The United States is rapidly readjusting as we are actively trying to figure out what will happen next with the coronavirus. Now is one of the easiest times to learn to think like an alien to innovate. We just had a year that challenged a lot of our assumptions about how we live everyday life. Before we jump back into the same patterns or go back to industry norms, take a second to look at those norms like an alien to see if there is a better way.