2. 1
ONE PEN – FOUR COLOURS – GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Humans ‘map’ the World in which we live and move and have our being. We created the
concept of North, South, East and West so that we could have a sense of where were are
and where we belong. From just four reference points, we navigate around the Globe.
In a similar way, the ThINKpen methodology uses just four colours to help you get a
sense of direction and perspective. It is quite natural but not helpful to get locked into
one way of looking at a situation. We’ve all had a breakthrough where someone else’s
information, perspective or insight has transformed the way we see the situation. Well,
having a ThINKpen in your pocket is like carrying four portable pals around with you –
everywhere you go – ready to give you not one, but four ways of looking at the World.
THINKING IN FOUR DIMENSIONS
Pragmatist. Some people are really good at thinking about the required results.
Activist. Others are fab at getting motivated, staying motivated, & motivating others.
Theorist. Knowing the right facts & theories can help you create the right strategy.
Reflector. And we all learn by reflecting on our results.
Transform your thinking
and your life will be transformed too.
As a well-rounded thinker, you’ll need to embrace all four thinking styles – it’s like
thinking in four dimensions. Then you’ll have an end-to-end transformational solution:
you can capture, clarify and communicate your thoughts, creatively!
CMYK OR RGB + B?
Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y) and Black (K for ‘Key’) have proved invaluable in
creating many a full-colour print out! When using a pen, however, Black, Red, Green
and Blue work well and are easily available in a four-colour pen format.
The main concept is to use colour on purpose. That is, to make the colours mean
something for you.
If you would like to adopt my methodology, I’m more than happy to share it with you…
Capture Clarify Communicate And Create
3. 2
BLACK RED GREEN + BLUE
Here’s the code system I use.
Black is for ‘Black and White Thinking’ – just the facts, no emotional bias. It’s
like newsprint – it reports the situation. This is like the logical and rational
approach of the Theorist.
Red is for ‘Action’ – just like the red on road signs – warning us that we need to
change our behaviour in response to a hazard or opportunity. This is the colour
of the Activist – who decides what needs to happen as a result of our thinking.
Green is for ‘Balance’ – as in Ecology. This is the systemic awareness of the
emotionally and ecologically literate mind – the Reflector. It thinks about the
broader consequences of any action, and is inclusive – making sure everyone
who will be affected by our thinking is considered or involved.
Blue is for ‘Blue-Sky Thinking’ – where the sky is the limit for our imagination
and dreams. It is expansive thinking, possibility thinking, positive thinking.
IN PRACTICE…
Whenever you wish to think broadly about an opportunity (or threat), all you’ll need is a
four colour ThINKpen and something to write on.
You can begin with any colour.
I will often sketch out the facts with the black ink. This is the Capture phase – grab the
data.
Then I’ll interrogate the data driven by the outcome I have in mind. The red ink is my
choice for focusing on outcomes and asking questions – a bit like the teacher’s red pen
marking up the text! This is the Clarify phase.
Pausing, I’ll ‘go-wide’ and think about the broader context – especially the relationships
that impact my thinking. I’m always looking for the biggest ‘Win’ for all parties. This is
an important aspect of the Communicate phase – engaging with others.
Casting off all limitations, I’ll map out the impossible using ‘the Sky’s the limit’ blue ink.
I will dare to imagine what could be. This is your Creative frame-of-mind.
Of course, floating off into imaginary worlds is unlikely to achieve much, even if it is
pleasant. The blue ink needs to come back to Earth in the form of the critical thinking of
the black (‘what could go wrong?’), the red (‘what needs to happen to make this work?’),
and the green ink (‘what are the consequences?’)
Cycle through the colours until your notepaper becomes a tapestry of thought from which
emerges a clear vision of the way ahead.
This is just an introduction to the concept; your imagination can do the rest…
…or I can help! Lex_mcKee@me.com and 0 777 8 221 222
