The Seven Secrets of How to Think Like a Rocket Scientist

Dream.- Imagine It.- Work on the Big Picture.- Aim High.- BS!.- Brainstorm.- Create Desire.- Tell a Story.- Sleep on It.- Think JFK.- Judge.- Get Real.- Play Games.- Simulate It.- Run a Thought Experiment.- Know Your Limits.- Weigh Ideas.- Ask.- Ask Dumb Questions.- Ask Big Questions.- Ask “What If?”.- Ask: “Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral?”.- Ask Just One More Question.- Check.- Prove Yourself Wrong.- Inspect for Defects.- Have a Backup Plan.- Do a Sanity Test.- Check Your Arithmetic.- Know the Risks.- Question Your Assumptions.- Simplify.- Keep It Simple, Stupid.- Draw a Picture.- Make a Mock-up.- Name the Beasts.- Look at the Little Picture.- Do the Math.- Apply Occam’s Razor.- Optimize.- Minimize the Cost.- Minimize the Time.- Be Mr. Spock.- Make It Faster, Better, Cheaper (But Not All Three!).- Know When Bigger Is Better.- Let Form Follow Function.- Pick the Best People.- Make Small Improvements.- Do.- Learn by Doing.- Sharpen Your Axe.- Correct It on the Way.- Do Something.- Don’t Ignore Trends.- Work on Your Average Performance.- Look Behind You.- Learn from Your Mistakes.- Epilogue.