When attempting to solve a problem, we tend to try approaches that have worked for us in the past. We do this even when we know a better approach exists.

This is called the Einstellung effect, and it’s all around us. We all have favorite strategies that we deploy against a wide range of problems, even though the internet gives us easy access to many more sophisticated and effective strategies. It used to be time-consuming and expensive to discover a new way to approach a problem. Now it takes minutes and it’s free.

There’s a best way to do many things, and it’s often not the way we’ve already mastered. Learning is easier than ever—let’s dig in.