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Release
people with whom you work—in school, at work
Nov 10, 2021 11:50
2 yrs ago
36 viewers *
English term

think out instead of in

English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters Marketing
Believing in this culture taught me to **think out instead of in**, to think bigger, not smaller, and to take risks even when I was scared.

I have no idea what this means :(
Can someone help?
Thanks!
Responses
3 look at the bigger/wider picture
4 think outside the box instead of inside
4 -2 think beyond the limitations I’ve set for myself

Discussion

Orkoyen (X) Nov 11, 2021:
Get a worldview beyond your own
AllegroTrans Nov 10, 2021:
Don't overthink this one
Kiet Bach Nov 10, 2021:
I don't think it is "thinking outside the box". "Thinking outside the box" means thinking in a non-traditional, non-conventional way.
AllegroTrans Nov 10, 2021:
Not really "dig deeper" as that could be interpreted as "look inward on yourself". I think it's more lile "look at the wider picture"
Wellingtone Odhiambo Nov 10, 2021:
Yes. Basically the culture taught you on venturing on the discomforts for your success, another word oftenly used is 'dig deeper'. In essence it is just work hard past your normal limit to achieve greater goals.
Alexander Howell-Jackson Nov 10, 2021:
Thinking outside the box elaboration They are simply saying that "Believing in X culture" taught them to have an open mind and challenge themselves.
AllegroTrans Nov 10, 2021:
Yes... "thinking outside the box" is the most probable meaning, especially in marketing and modern speech
Daryo Nov 10, 2021:
Check what is meant by "thinking outside the box"

Then the "in" variant also gets defined, as being the opposite of that.

There was at some point a big fad in "management theories" about "collateral thinking", just another name for the same ...

Responses

4 days
Selected

look at the bigger/wider picture

From the short snippet of text I don't think we can narrow down the meaning any more than this

the big​/​wider picture
phrase
DEFINITIONS1

1
a whole or complete situation, including all the things that it affects, not just one part of it

It’s important we don’t lose sight of the big picture when we make these decisions.

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/the-b...

eaning of the big/bigger picture in English
the big/bigger picture
the most important facts about a situation and the effects of that situation on other things:
In my political work I try to concentrate on the big picture and not be distracted by details.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/big-bigg...
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I'd like to thank everyone for their help. In the end, I found that the "bigger picture" was the most convincing interpretations. Thanks!"
1 day 23 hrs

think outside the box instead of inside

I am pretty sure that this is what is meant here given the subsequent context

Thinking out(side the box) means being innovative, creative, trying out novel ways of doing, not being limited or restrained either by your own fears or ouside factors but rather being able to take a gamble that might be risky. Hence thinking "big" means unrestrained ideas and willing to try new ways and means of doing things. And brainstorming ideas
Not being scared

Thinking in(side the box): sticking to tried and trusted methods, restrained, humdrum, unimaginative. Your ideas about a situation may be confined to whatever everyone else thinks about that situation so "small" in scope. No gambling or risk-taking. Happy with the status quo rather than being ambitious and aiming higher


There are people who say that one can be creative thinking inside the box too! And that it may be better sometimes!

An example

https://www.thementalhealthupdate.com/posts/think-inside-the...
Peer comment(s):
agree Daryo
1 day 7 hrs
Many thanks:-)
disagree Kiet Bach : If the author meant to say "think outside the box", he/she would have used "think outside the box" instead of using the unidiomatic " think out". / I said "think out" is unidiomatic. That's the linguistic reason.
1 day 9 hrs
Forgot you've got a crystal ball! You have not given a linguistic reason for disagreeing other than your GUESS as to author's intentions.
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-2
7 hrs

think beyond the limitations I’ve set for myself

think beyond the limitations I’ve set for myself

Notice that "think out instead of in" is followed by "to think bigger, not smaller".

If you have a business that generates 1 million dollars in revenue, and you think you would be satisfied with a revenue of 500 thousand, then you are thinking smaller. If you think someday you can reach a revenue of 10 million, then you are thinking bigger.

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Note added at 3 days 9 hrs (2021-11-13 20:51:44 GMT)
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"to think bigger, not smaller" is the author's explanation of "think out instead of in".
Peer comment(s):
neutral Daryo : not convinced at all by "I’ve set for myself" - I would bet that more context would show that this "box" are limitations set by (/created under the influence of) OTHERS.
1 day 2 hrs
The limitations he sets for himself may have been influenced by others.
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : "limitations I’ve set for myself" makes no sense in this context
3 days 17 hrs
disagree AllegroTrans : "limitations I’ve set for myself" makes sense but it's an assumption by you; many limitations in life are set by circumstances and other people
4 days
Again, the limitations he sets for himself may have been influenced by others. Thank you for recognizing it "makes sense" though.
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