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Intuition vs. the Intellectual

  Albert Einstein and David Hilbert each chased the theory of General Relativity on their own paths. Einstein leaned on physical intuition and imaginative thought experiments, whereas Hilbert dove into precise mathematics and sophisticated geometry. In the end, Einstein arrived at the complete theory first, and Hilbert graciously acknowledged it.

But this isn't a story about physics—it's about the way we think. Whether you're a banking CEO, a CPA, or running a manufacturing company, you've mastered your field. You grasp all the technical and analytical nuances of your work. So, when pondering an event that impacts your business, you don't pull out textbooks for a deep dive. Instead, you rely on your intuition to guide you. That's because you've absorbed all that knowledge so thoroughly that it's woven into your mindset, emerging naturally as intuition.

The same held true for Einstein, Hilbert, and even Henri Poincaré, who also tackled General Relativity. They had internalized geometry to such a degree that it became an instinctive/ intuitive part of their thought process.

Don't dismiss intuition. This isn't the reckless "cowboy" variety with wild guesses thrown out in hopes they'll stick.


David Hilbert and Albert Einstein


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