Create analogies in 3 steps

1. List personality traits

The main characteristics of my idea are …

2. Find close cousins

Familiar things that share some of those characteristics are …

3. Connect

[new idea] is like [familiar idea].

How good was NBA star Michael Jordan?

1. List personality traits

Incredibly skilled, best defender, best offensive player, champion, idol.

2. Find close cousins

Star, superstar, greatest of all time, king, leader, sun, god.

3. Connect

“God disguised as Michael Jordan."
- Larry Bird​

How does healthcare work?

1. List personality traits

Multiple players. Each depend on the others. Complex relationships. Differing goals.

2. Find close cousins

Family, football team, military unit, symphony orchestra, ecosystem.

3. Connect

Healthcare is like an ecosystem. If you minimize one player, the rest collapses. We must find solutions that work for patients, payers, regulators, Pharma, and investors.

Tips

Art, not science.

Focus on shared characteristics and gloss over differences.

Frameworks

[new idea] is like [familiar idea]

[new idea] is the new [familiar idea]

[subject] are as [adjective] as a [familiar idea]

Shortcut

No time to create your own analogy? Find powerful analogies, metaphors, and quotes here.