Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

arrow_back_ios_new
MENTAL MODEL · M2331

Icarus Paradox

Icarus Paradox
CreateHigh supportInnovation Methods
Included
account_tree

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Icarus fell to his death because he flew too high (due to good wings), and the wax wings melted in the sun. It refers to enterprises or individuals who ultimately fail because they over-rely on the core strengths that led to their success. Strengths evolve into blind spots and rigidity.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

The death spiral of the successful. - Distinction: Unlike the 'Innovator's Dilemma' (disrupted from below), Icarus dies from 'overexertion'. - Nokia died from its extreme pursuit of hardware quality (a former strength), leading to neglect of the software ecosystem; Kodak died from its monopoly on film technology (a former strength). What you are best at is often what will kill you in the future.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Danny Miller proposed that enterprises 'over-invest' or rigidify the core capabilities that brought past success, turning strengths into blind spots; flying too high (overexertion) rather than being disrupted from below leads to the crash.

MINIMUM ACTION

In progress 0/3

Practice this model in one real situation:

Check to track your progress (stored locally)
Learning progress0%
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more

Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus_paradoxZH · Explicit
    verified

RELATED MODELS

Related model

First Principles

In philosophy and science, a first principle (or first principles) refers to a basic proposition that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption. The concept originates in philosophy from Aristotle's doctrine of the 'first cause', while in Kantian philosophy, its corresponding form is called a 'postulate'. In mathematics and formal logic, first principles manifest as 'axioms' or 'postulates', constituting the absolute starting point of logical deduction. In physics and other scientific fields, if the research process is entirely based on fundamental physical laws, without relying on empirical models or parameter fitting, it is referred to as 'from first principles' or 'ab initio'.

arrow_forwardRelated model

Start-Stop-Continue

A minimal feedback structure

arrow_forwardRelated model

Jugaad

Jugaad or jugaar (Hindi:जुगाड़, Urdu: جگاڑ, Arabic: جگاڑ, Punjabi: ਜੁਗਾੜ, jugāṛ) is a non-conventional and frugal innovation amongst people of South Asia. It also includes innovative fixes or simple workarounds, solutions that bend the rules, or resources that can be used in such a way. It is consid…

arrow_forward