During a recent visit to the gym, I had a profound conversation that left me pondering the idea that  

"If you don't know where the box is, you can easily think outside of it."

The concept of leveraging ignorance for innovation struck a chord with me, and I was reminded of a remarkable real-life example: the Collison brothers, Patrick and John.

These two brothers, aged 19 and 21 at the time, decided to create something revolutionary that could potentially disrupt the world of e-commerce and global banking. Their ambitious goal was to simplify online payments, but here's the catch – they didn't know the first thing about banking regulations or how intricate the financial industry was.

That idea made the brothers billionaires before they reached the age of 30. Still, more importantly, Stripe has made it possible for people worldwide to easily take online payments while still maintaining compliance with banking regulations.

The Beginner's Advantage: Patrick and John embarked on their journey with minimal knowledge of the complex world they were about to enter. They didn't realize that what they were attempting was supposed to be almost impossible. This ignorance was their beginner's advantage.

Unburdened by Constraints: Ignorant of the myriad restrictions and pitfalls they could encounter, the Collison brothers were free to reimagine online payments. They didn't feel constrained by the established norms of the industry.

The Fearless Approach: While experienced professionals in the field might have been discouraged by the challenges, Patrick and John weren't. In this case, ignorance meant a fearless approach to creating something entirely new. If you stare at a problem long enough, you'll run the risk of finding enough reasons why it's not a good idea to tackle it.

Learning Along the Way: The Collison brothers didn't stay ignorant for long. As they delved deeper into their venture, they discovered the ropes of banking and finance. They adapted, grew, and, in the process, made the fintech world accessible to all.

The Ignorance Catalyst The story of the brothers illustrates that sometimes not knowing the rules can be a significant advantage. You cannot be trapped in a box you don’t even know exists.

When you are ignorant of the complexities, each obstacle is one of one, and not one of a thousand. At least not at first. In my experience, beginning an entrepreneurial journey is the most difficult part of the whole process.

So, the next time you face a problem, don't shy away because you don't know where the box is.

Dive in, embrace your ignorance, and challenge the norms. After all, it might be your unfamiliarity with the box that ultimately enables you to think outside of it.

Ignorance can catalyze innovation when coupled with curiosity and a willingness to learn. It's a reminder that you don't need to be an industry expert to change the game.

Time for Action. Consider leveraging your own "ignorance" in your entrepreneurial endeavors. If you find yourself needing guidance on transforming your unique perspective into innovation, reach out to me. Let's explore how you can use your ignorance as a force for positive change.