{"id":24722,"date":"2019-11-04T11:48:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-04T19:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=24722"},"modified":"2019-11-04T11:51:41","modified_gmt":"2019-11-04T19:51:41","slug":"airbnbs-party-houses-and-the-need-to-move-to-kingdom-order-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/airbnbs-party-houses-and-the-need-to-move-to-kingdom-order-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"Airbnb\u2019s “Party Houses” and the Need to Move to Kingdom-Order Thinking\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shane Parrish has created a thoughtful community at Farnum Street delivering content about content, thinking about thinking, \"\"<\/a>learning about learning, and wisdom about wisdom. He hails the mission statement \u201cUpgrade Your Thinking.\u201d From a simple blog to now active online community with over 250,000 participants, Parrish curates and engages his community about epistemology and decision making. Furthermore, Farnum Street is probably the only place I know of that sells a literal thinking cap<\/a>. In his latest endeavor, <\/span>The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts, <\/span><\/i>Parrish delivers a survey of nine maps or models of thinking to equip the reader with more tools and strategies to make informed decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of these models outlines the concept of second-order thinking. First-order thinking only considers the immediate results, while second-order thinking considers consequences farther ahead and more holistically (loc 1076). This mental model extends a call to think downstream about intended and unintended consequences. I\u2019m reminded of the cane toad infestation in Australia. These toads, indigenous to the Americas, were introduced to control the native grey-backed cane beetle in Australia. Years later, these toads have multiplied to an uncontrollable millions upon millions and little evidence exists that proves these toads have positively impacted the number of cane beetles. The effects of these toads on the environment have far surpassed the original nuisance of the beetles. Oops!<\/span><\/p>\n

This morning while running on the treadmill I caught some of the morning banter about Airbnb banning \u201cparty houses\u201d after a tragic killing over the weekend on CNBC\u2019s \u201cThe Squawk Box\u201d (CNBC). The talk show participants were asking second-order type questions around innovation like \u201cWhy was Airbnb allowing \u2018party houses\u2019 in the first place?\u201d and delivering the accusation, \u201cWhy didn\u2019t they think of this before?\u201d They were considering processes of innovation (\u201cDo you ask for permission or forgiveness?\u201d) and the diffusion of innovation (like the adoption process of using seat belts). The moved the conversation to the false political advertisements on Facebook. One reporter rhetorically asked, \u201cWill the marketplace of ideas take care of the problem? Obviously not.\u201d While asking second-order thinking questions, they unfortunately responded with a first-order thinking solution to the advertisements: move the narrow targeting of advertising on Facebook. This, they argued, would allow others who disagree to voice those disagreements and crowd-source the accountability in verifying the truthfulness of the ads. This doesn\u2019t take into consideration that Facebook\u2019s entire marketing schema revolves around the potency of advertising to highly narrow audiences. One interviewer delivered what might become the thrust of my research. She said, \u201cThis [problem] is due to a lack of imagination on the part of the innovators.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Parrish identifies the two most efficacious areas for second-order thinking: \u201c1) Prioritizing long-term interests over immediate gains. 2)\u00a0 Constructing effective arguments\u201d (loc 1136). He also offers two postures to embody: being \u201cas observant and honest as we can about the web of connections we are operating in\u201d (loc 1113).\u00a0 While I would absolutely affirm the need for second order thinking, this model is limited to fields of existing issues or new ideas with easily predicted consequences. Consequences are nearly impossible to predict in new and innovative landscapes. Mark Zuckerburg, in his amorous years in college creating a \u201cHot or Not\u201d page, had no idea he would be standing in front of a court some fifteen years later discussing policies of foreign meddling with political elections and advertisements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Second and even third-ordered thinking (thinking about thinking about thinking) are certainly prized and welcomed, but I coin a new term here – Kingdom-ordered Thinking. I would define this as a thought process that considers implications, consequences, and postures of a decision in light of the coming kingdom. In other words, as a leader considers the new heavens and the new earth, the coming reign and rule of Christ, and the process of God making all things new, she will find the entire decision process stamped with kingdom principles. When considering a possible innovation, the entire process will be marked and shaped by this King and life in the Kingdom (and Kin-dom!). Like the reporter\u2019s declaration, I would argue that many unintended consequences are due to a lack of kingdom imagination on the part of the innovators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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First, I\u2019ll offer a negative example for contrast from my own context. Over the last several years, Cru out of a well-intentioned heart, has adopted an Adventure-based recruiting narrative. There was little Second Ordered Thinking and this was just a grassroots approach, not stemming from an intentional direction, but from a desire to mobilize more students. \u201cImagine the places you could go!\u201d the almost Seussian invitation went out. The downstream, second-order issues are a group of laborers who don\u2019t have the sacrificial and cross-bearing attitude at the epicenter of their call. The appropriate second-order question asks, \u201cWhat happens when their time overseas is no longer an adventure?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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How do we flex the kingdom imagination muscle and grease the cogs in a kingdom-ordered thinking mind? I suggest some guiding questions to begin practical Kingdom-ordered thinking for innovation:<\/span><\/p>\n