👋 Hola, dumdums!

Raise your hand if you feel like we’re living in a world that’s moving faster than we can Google, or ChatGPT prompt it.

Technology, industries, and even social norms are evolving at breakneck speed, and to keep up, we—as humans—really need to level up. Not just in what we know, but in how we learn. 

Today, probably more than ever, we need to learn faster. But speed isn’t just about cramming more facts into our brains. It’s about adaptability, creativity, and resilience. 

To learn faster, we need to learn how to learn better.

And that’s where Dumbify comes in.

This newsletter—and the broader mission behind it—isn’t just about celebrating absurd, out-of-the-box ideas for the sake of entertainment. It’s about equipping you with a toolkit to think differently, act boldly, and, ultimately, learn how to learn better. 

Let’s get dumb.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that being “smart” means knowing all the answers. But when you really sit down and think about it, the greatest breakthroughs in history weren’t born from encyclopedic knowledge. They came from curiosity, playfulness, and the courage to challenge what everyone else assumed was true.

The truth is, “smart” is overrated. Smart traps us in mental ruts, convincing us that what we know is enough.

Dumb, on the other hand, is where the magic happens. Dumb is unafraid to ask, “Why?” and “What if?” Dumb is where learning begins.

If we want to learn how to learn better, we need to unlearn a lot of what we’ve been told about learning itself. That means embracing curiosity over expertise, reframing failure as feedback, breaking out of mental ruts, seeking diverse perspectives, and—perhaps most importantly—learning through play. Let’s dive into each of these pillars.

Imagine you’re in a meeting, and someone presents a new idea. Everyone nods along, but you’re squirming in your seat because you don’t understand a key part of it. Do you ask the “stupid” question? Or do you stay silent, assuming everyone else must already know the answer?

If you chose silence, you’re not alone. Most of us have been taught to prioritize looking knowledgeable over staying curious. But here’s the paradox: curiosity, not expertise, is the secret to learning better.

Experts often get stuck in their own knowledge, relying on what they already know and missing opportunities for discovery. Curiosity, on the other hand, keeps you open to asking the right questions—the ones that challenge assumptions, reveal gaps, and spark breakthroughs.

Make curiosity your superpower. 👇

Curiosity isn’t just about asking questions—it’s about cultivating a beginner’s mindset, even when you know a lot. It helps you stay flexible, uncover blind spots, and explore new ideas with the enthusiasm of someone seeing them for the first time.

Here’s the challenge: At your next meeting or learning opportunity, commit to asking at least one “stupid” question—the kind that makes you nervous. Watch how it shifts the energy in the room. You might just inspire others to speak up, too.

Every groundbreaking idea started as a question that someone was brave enough to ask. So the next time you feel the urge to stay silent, remember: the bravest learners aren’t the ones who know it all—they’re the ones who stay endlessly curious

Somewhere along the line, we’ve been led to believe that learning should be serious business. But research says otherwise—playfulness is one of the most effective ways to absorb and retain information. Neuroscientists have found that play reduces stress, activates reward centers in the brain, and enhances creative problem-solving. In other words, play helps you learn better.

Think about how children learn: through games, exploration, and imagination. They don’t just memorize; they experiment, fail, and try again. The same approach works for adults—it’s just that we’re conditioned to think we’ve outgrown it.

Let play do the heavy lifting. 👇

Play creates emotional connections to the material, making it stickier. When you’re having fun, you’re less afraid to experiment and make mistakes—key ingredients for real learning.

Here’s the challenge: Take something on your to-do list today and add an element of play. Try it, and you might surprise yourself (and maybe even others).

Learning in isolation is like cooking with just one spice. Sure, you can make something edible, but will it be memorable? Probably not. The richest learning happens when we mix perspectives—inviting fresh ingredients into the pot.

When you collaborate, you’re not just borrowing someone else’s ideas—you’re exposing yourself to a different way of thinking, challenging your own assumptions, and unlocking creative solutions you might never have seen on your own. Research even shows that diverse groups consistently outperform homogenous ones in problem-solving and innovation.

Seek out the unexpected. 👇

Collaboration exposes you to new cognitive tools. It’s like suddenly being handed a multi-tool instead of trying to MacGyver your way through challenges with a single screwdriver.

Here’s the challenge: The next time you’re stuck, reach out to someone whose perspective you rarely hear. Ask for their thoughts on a project, a problem, or even something you’re curious about. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your one-spice meal becomes a feast.

Mental ruts are the enemy of creativity and growth. They trap us in well-worn paths of thinking, recycling the same ideas over and over. If you’ve ever stared at a blank page or felt like every idea was stale, you know what I mean.

Mental ruts don’t mean you’ve run out of ideas, they just mean your brain is too comfortable.

To break free, you need to jolt it into unfamiliar territory. That’s where a little playfulness—and even absurdity—comes in.

Flip the rut on its head. 👇

Ruts thrive on predictability, and predictability is the death of creativity. By introducing randomness, humor, or a playful twist, you loosen your brain’s grip on the “right” way to do things and open the door to new possibilities.

Here’s the challenge: The next time you feel stuck, stop trying to be brilliant. Instead, aim to be ridiculous. Set a timer for five minutes and unleash the dumbest ideas you can think of. You’ll either stumble on something great—or at least have a good laugh to clear your mind.

Failure has a PR problem. We’re taught to fear it, avoid it, and, when it happens, sweep it under the rug. But failure isn’t the villain—it’s just feedback in disguise.

Think of failure as a mirror. It reflects what isn’t working so you can adjust. Thomas Edison famously reframed his 10,000 failed lightbulb experiments, saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That mindset isn’t just for inventors—it’s for anyone willing to see failure as a necessary step toward success.

Flip the script on failure. 👇

Failure feels less threatening when you treat it as data. Instead of personalizing it (“I’m bad at this”), you analyze it (“This approach didn’t work—why not?”). This shift reduces fear, encourages experimentation, and builds resilience over time.

Here’s the challenge: The next time something flops, don’t bury it. Analyze it. Ask yourself three questions: 1) What was I trying to achieve? 2) What specifically didn’t work? 3) What can I try differently next time? Bonus points if you share your failure with someone—it might inspire them to reframe their own.

Dumbify isn’t just about thinking differently to solve problems—it’s about rethinking how we approach learning itself. At its core, Dumbify is a mental model for learning faster and better in a world that demands it.

It may seem counter-intuitive to say that getting smarter starts with getting dumber. But that’s the special sauce. When you embrace curiosity, lean into play, reframe failure, and actively seek diverse perspectives, you’re not just solving problems—you’re rewiring your brain to learn how to learn.

Why does this matter?

Because we’re living in a time where adaptability is the ultimate superpower.

Industries shift, technologies evolve, and what works today might not work tomorrow.

If you can’t learn faster, you risk being left behind.

Dumbify prepares you for this challenge, not by giving you all the answers, but by helping you become the kind of person who can find them.

To learn better, start by unlearning. 👇

The paradox of Dumbify: The very act of embracing “dumb” thinking makes you smarter. It clears mental clutter, encourages creativity, and sharpens your ability to adapt.

The goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to embrace the dumb process. When you apply Dumbify as a mental model, you’ll surprise yourself with new inventive solutions, a clearer understanding, and the confidence to tackle whatever comes next.

Dumbify isn’t just a philosophy; it’s a survival skill.

🤔 Dumb Word of the Day: “Apophenia” is the tendency to perceive connections or patterns in unrelated things. Traditionally, it's seen as a negative—associated with delusional thinking, like finding patterns in gambling or conspiracy theories. But flip the script, and apophenia becomes a powerful lens for creativity and innovation.

Misperceptions and misinterpretations have long been staples of breakthrough thinking. Our need to find patterns in all things is both a blessing and a curse. By learning about apophenia, you gain a new understanding of how you learn—and how to use this tendency to your advantage. Notice when you're seeing patterns, and ask: Is this an insight or a distraction? Harnessing apophenia thoughtfully could unlock unexpected connections and revolutionary ideas.

Whatever you choose, remember this: 

Learning isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about being the most curious, the most playful, and the most willing to take risks. And that, my friends, is what Dumbify is all about.

Until next week, stay curious—and stay dumb.

Warmly, David Carson

P.S. If this newsletter sparked an idea or made you smile, share it with someone who could use a little Dumbify in their life.