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Get smarter by thinking dumber.

Your weekly guide to unconventional thinking, unique insights, and ridiculous ideas that show how 'dumb' thinking can lead to better solutions.

"Dumbify is my secret weapon. It flips my thinking upside down and reminds me that the ‘weirdest’ ideas often spark the best work.”

Jordan, Creative Director

"It’s so easy to get stuck in the same tired old playbooks. Dumbify helps me to rewire how I think about solving big problems."”

Natasha, Startup Founder

"It’s like having someone shake up your brain, but in the best way possible. Dumbify isn’t just a newsletter — it’s a mindset shift."”

Jamie, CMO

most recent

If You Don't Pick the Scoreboard, the Scoreboard Picks You

If You Don't Pick the Scoreboard, the Scoreboard Picks You

Why sabotaging your scoreboard is the smartest move you'll make.

How Trader Joe's Wins by Getting Everything Wrong

How Trader Joe's Wins by Getting Everything Wrong

The grocery store that broke every rule of retail and became a $16 billion cult.

Stop Trying to Find Your Passion. Build It.

Stop Trying to Find Your Passion. Build It.

Passion isn't something you discover. Passion is something you cultivate.

Your Brain Needs Confusion Like Muscles Need Weight

Your Brain Needs Confusion Like Muscles Need Weight

Confusion is the resistance training that turns information into real learning.

Your art teacher lied to you.

Your art teacher lied to you.

This is the single dumbest thing we teach creative people.

The Gift of Being Wrong

The Gift of Being Wrong

How a typo saved Christmas and a glitch made billions.

Why You Should Talk to Yourself in Public

Why You Should Talk to Yourself in Public

Society tells us that mumbling to ourselves is a sign of madness, a habit reserved for the unhinged or the socially awkward. But what if the person muttering next to the Gouda is actually the smartest one in the room?

The science of wasting time effectively.

The science of wasting time effectively.

One dumb thing leads to another (literally).

In Defense of Dumb

In Defense of Dumb

Why the Anxious Try-Hards Are Losing Their Grip

Getting Weird With Friends & Family

Getting Weird With Friends & Family

Why "dignity" is the enemy of joy, and a step-by-step guide to lowering the bar until everyone is having a good time.

How your commonsense helps you choose which dumb idea is better than your other dumb ideas

How your commonsense helps you choose which dumb idea is better than your other dumb ideas

It’s not the voice that kills your weird ideas. It’s the one that keeps them from dying on impact.

❤️ The Dumb Guide to Emotion

❤️ The Dumb Guide to Emotion

Every feeling is a small burst of intelligence, whispering what matters before reason finds the words.

Your Brain, the Spielberg of Nonsense

Your Brain, the Spielberg of Nonsense

Why your imagination isn’t fantasy—it’s adaptive storytelling.

Your Gut Knows Something You Don’t (Yet)

Your Gut Knows Something You Don’t (Yet)

Ever get goosebumps for no reason? That’s not superstition. It’s your primal intelligence trying to send you a memo.

The Genius of Playing Dumb

The Genius of Playing Dumb

Delivered Weekly, Because Thinking Dumb Takes Time.

Ridiculous Rituals (and Why Your Brain Loves Them Anyway)

Ridiculous Rituals (and Why Your Brain Loves Them Anyway)

Delivered Weekly, Because Thinking Dumb Takes Time.

The Science of Being Stupid Together

The Science of Being Stupid Together

What if the secret to high-performing teams and genuine human connection isn't more professionalism, but less?

The Strange World of Cheese Influencers

The Strange World of Cheese Influencers

(And the Secret to Finding Joy)

How to Think Upside Down Good

How to Think Upside Down Good

The dumb art of being backwards.

Why Fight For Scraps When You Can Throw Your Own Party?

Why Fight For Scraps When You Can Throw Your Own Party?

Forget battling for attention in crowded markets. The Nobody’s-Here-Party Method shows you how to walk out, find an empty room, and make it the hottest spot in town.

The Things That Make You Weird Make You Memorable

The Things That Make You Weird Make You Memorable

You can spend your whole life trying to blend in and still get forgotten, or you can lean into the part of you that makes people tilt their heads and go, “Huh.”

The Trouble With Thinking You're Smarter Than You Are

The Trouble With Thinking You're Smarter Than You Are

How to cure chronic know-it-all syndrome (starting with yourself)

Why We Make Stuff Harder Than It Needs to Be

Why We Make Stuff Harder Than It Needs to Be

How the best solutions are hiding behind our need to look smart.

You Will Never Meet an Idiot Who Isn't Having a Good Time

You Will Never Meet an Idiot Who Isn't Having a Good Time

How my friend Adi accidentally solved the happiness equation.

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David Carson

Helping People Use Dumb-Thinking as a Superpower

Carson is a counter-intuitive thinker and creative problem-solver with a knack for uncovering genius where others see nonsense. Known for transforming unconventional ideas into groundbreaking solutions, he has helped global brands like American Express, Nike, Coca-Cola, and IKEA build human connections, captivate audiences, and redefine what’s possible.

As the author of Dumbify and creator of its popular newsletter, Carson inspires individuals and organizations to embrace “dumb” ideas—those that seem foolish at first but often hold the smartest answers. His work blends creativity and strategy, fostering environments where curiosity, fresh perspectives, and bold experimentation thrive.

Get smarter by thinking dumber