• by February 1, 2008

I don't know if the story is fact or myth, but a very young Albert Einstein was asked his home address and, to the great surprise of the inquirer, Einstein said he did not know and had to refer to a notebook. When asked why he did not know such a basic piece of personal information, Einstein purportedly replied, "I make it a point not to keep anything unnecessary in my head that I can find elsewhere."

I think it begs the discussion on the difference (or importance) between thinking and memory. I am a big fan of the "Jeopardy," for example. I marvel at the contestants who are human Googles. They are masters of memory and recall, but they are no Einstein, Da Vinci, or Edison.

Technology enables us to search (and find) in seconds and minutes, what used to take us hours and days. The same technology, however, cannot help us find that new big idea or innovation. It does, though, help us to invest more time thinking.

Thanks [to Search Insider Gord Hotchkiss] for getting me thinking about this interesting subject.