In Model 41 of Thinking for Success, John explores the idea of Addition by Subtraction sometimes the best way to improve something isn’t to add more, but to take something away.

John illustrates this concept with the balance bike. For years, children learned to ride a bike by adding training wheels. But a balance bike takes the opposite approach: it removes the pedals. By taking something away, children can focus on developing one of the most important skills needed to ride a bike—balance.

Once they’ve mastered balance, adding the pedals back becomes much easier.

This simple example offers a powerful way to think about challenges in life and work. When we’re trying to solve a problem or make something better, our instinct is often to ask, “What can I add?” But sometimes a better question is, “What can I take away?”