www.leaderonomics.
com | Saturday 2 December 2017
The Natural Philosopher
How Sir Isaac Newton’s Lessons Are Still Relevant Today
By ROSHAN THIRAN
roshan.thiran@leaderonomics.com
“If others would think as hard as
I did, then they would get similar
results.” – Sir Isaac Newton
T
HROUGHOUT history, every once
in a while, a person transforms
our understanding of the world
in a way that is truly amazing.
In Sir Isaac Newton’s case,
“the man who birthed the industrial
revolution” gave us scientific discoveries
on motion and energy that are still as
relevant today as they were 300 years
ago.
Possessing a mind of unparalleled
genius, he also discovered the laws of
optics (figuring out that white light is
composed of several colours), the laws
of motion, and the universal law of
gravitation.
If that wasn’t impressive enough,
Newton also invented integral and
differential calculus after a friend posed
a question on the shape of planets.
Amazingly, most of these phenomenal
achievements were made by the time he
turned 26.
Newton (1643-1727) was a physicist,
astronomer, mathematician and
philosopher whose work revolutionised
science in the 17th Century, and had
enormous impact for social and industrial
advancement.
I asked myself, what can we learn
about leadership from a physicist? As
I started studying the life of Newton, I
discovered that there is a lot we can learn
about leadership and ‘transformation’
from everyone, including a scientist who
lived more than three centuries ago.
Insatiable Curiosity
One of Newton’s most powerful traits
was his insatiable curiosity. He asked
questions about everything he observed
which (like Leonardo da Vinci and many
other great leaders I have written about)
was something that served to enhance
his creative intellect to even greater
levels.
Leadership starts with curiosity.
When we are curious, we begin to ask
questions, which begin to help us see the
world in a different light.
FREE WORKSHOP
for NGO LEADERS
7pm – 10pm, 5 Dec 2017 (Tues)
@Menara Star, Phileo Damansara 2
3
Sir Isaac Newton.
The most famous example of his
curiosity comes to us in the story of the
apple that supposedly fell on his head,
eventually leading him to outline the
laws of gravity.
According to Newton himself, he had
witnessed an apple falling from a tree,
which led him to question why it fell
straight down rather than at an angle.
This question is what led him to
develop his work on motion and gravity,
which he began working on during a
two-year break at Cambridge University,
as his college was closed due to The Great
Plague.
But Newton didn’t just ask great
questions, he also pursued the answers.
We need to learn and pursue answers
too.
I am sure there were a million people
before Newton who observed an apple
fall and asked why it does so, yet none
pursued an answer.
Great leaders question everything,
but they also know that only when the
questions are answered that curiosity
translates to innovation.
Being curious is great. Answering your
unanswerable questions is what changes
the world and makes it a better place.
Patience and Perseverance
In 1687, after an 18-month period
of intensive work, Newton published
his Mathematical Principles of Natural
BRANDING
For inquiries, get in touch with Pravin at pravin.nair@leaderonomics.com
Like this article?
Follow us
@Leaderonomics
on Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn
and Instagram.
Philosophy (commonly referred to as Redefining the World
Principia), which is still considered among In Newton’s view, being an innovator
the most transformative and influential didn’t mean that he necessarily had
scientific books of all time. to reinvent the wheel – he just had to
His ability to work at length on the create a refined version of the ones that
most complex questions was due to his had come before.
inexhaustible perseverance. He understood that, in order to make
He once noted: “If I have done the any kind of valuable progress, it was This article is
public any service, it is due to my patient vital to first learn from and understand available at www.
leaderonomics.
thought”, before adding: “It is not that the work of prominent experts. com, where you
I am so smart, it’s just that I stay with From this vantage point, we are can download the
problems longer.” better able to see what others can’t PDF version.
Setting aside Newton’s unique genius, and build on previous discoveries and
the quality of asking the right questions achievements. But Newton did much
and being able to patiently think them more. Leaderonomics has
through is one of the hallmark traits of He understood that, for anyone to several self-
any transformational leader. truly change the world, relationships mastery
When we attempt to be creative matter. He once said: “We build too programmes that
and innovate, it’s always the case that many walls and not enough bridges”, uncover techniques
nothing worthwhile comes from quickly urging everyone to break down the silos to help you
rushing through ideas. between us and connect deeper with discover and
The best innovations are those each other. maximise your
supported by a strong foundation of Only when we truly connect and learn potentials. Reach
forethought and consideration. A key from one another will we make a deep out to us through
question for us to ask: Do we block out impact. training@
enough time in a day to ‘patiently think’ While some have argued that Newton leaderonomics.com
as Newton did? was the greatest scientist to ever have to learn more.
If we have no time for patient thought, lived, others often make comparisons
don’t expect to be innovative or creative. between him and Albert Einstein,
who challenged Newton’s view of the n Roshan Thiran
Passion for Learning universe by asserting that space, motion is the founder
Newton also had an unyielding passion and distance were relative rather than and CEO of the
for learning and poured all his energies absolute, and that the universe was far Leaderonomics
into building on the knowledge of others more complex than Newton could ever Group and is
that went before him. have known. constantly amazed
He was known for always having a With over 200 years separating the by the numerous
notebook and pen beside him as he two scientists (Einstein was born in leadership lessons
jotted down excerpts of the various 1879), it would have been fully expected he derives from
books he read. by Newton that his work would be historical figures.
He was heavily influenced by the built upon and new observations made, Growing up, Roshan
works of the French philosopher Rene just like he had done from the great constantly read
Descartes, as well as the astronomers scientists who had come before him. biographies of great
who developed theories about the Earth’s achievers like Sir
place in the cosmos in relation to the Sun Final Thoughts Isaac Newton and
and other planets. Nevertheless, it is indisputable that others. He learnt so
These included Nicolaus Copernicus, the work of Sir Isaac Newton laid some much and hopes his
Johannes Kepler, and Galileo. Newton the foundations that greatly enriched writing will inspire
paid a touching homage to his fellow our understanding of the universe. others that follow.
scientists in one of his most quoted When asked to sum up his life’s Follow Roshan’s
sayings: “If I have seen further than achievements, he replied: “I know not daily adventures
others, it is by standing upon the shoulders how I seem to others, but to myself I and leadership tips
of giants.” And he meant it. am but a small child wandering upon on his LinkedIn ,
Newton believed that we had to learn the vast shores of knowledge, every Twitter and also
from others. now and then finding a small bright on Facebook pages
His creativity stemmed from pebble to content myself with while the at www.facebook.
combining ideas learnt from reading vast ocean of undiscovered truth lay com/roshanthiran.
other works. We can do likewise. before me.” leaderonomics
Running an NGO is no walk in the park and
we know it. Together with a group of highly
trained Masters in Managerial Psychology
students from HELP University, we want to
support your journey. Come and learn the
art of branding through social media for
FREE and how that can be a powerful tool in
helping your NGO move beyond limitations.
Register at leaderonomics.org/ldrworkshops
to secure your FREE* seat!
*Each workshop is limited to 30 pax. Admission is by
registration only, on a first come, first served basis.