How Pizzas can help you solve problems (Atomic Essay Day 03)

Okay so imagine something that you like to eat. Let's take pizza as an example okay? Close your eyes and imagine the best pizza you can think of. For me it would be a light, sourdough base, with a juicy tomato sauce, lots of pepperoni on top and stringy cheese. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!

Now imagine the same pizza but where the pepperoni is burnt or the cheese hasn't melted or worst still, the crust is not cooked evenly. We've all been there and we know that even one of these things can ruin a pizza. A great pizza has the right balance of texture, flavour and ingredients and is a work of art in itself.

A pizza is like a system - the larger whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

From the stock market to the human body - we are surrounded by systems. And they are complex webs with ifs and buts. Oversimplification is great for understanding but sucks when you're trying to solve problems.

So the next time you're faced with a problem - whether it is over dinner or in a meeting, do put on your 'system glasses'. It might help you look at things holistically and understand the problem better. It is so much more than the parts. 2+2 is not always 4 huh?