DO YOU SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY?
James Tuckerman, Editor-In-Chief, Anthill Magazine
It’s often said that entrepreneurs see the world differently.
It has been observed that entrepreneurs have a higher tolerance for risk. They are also able to see opportunity where others might only see peril. Or, at least, that’s the common wisdom.
They are said to be creative, right-brain thinkers, big-picture people.
This is an assumption I’d like to test.
When we interview a new prospective employee at Anthill we ask the following question…
Q1: If a turtle loses his shell, is he naked or homeless?
Of course, there is no correct answer. But the thought process behind the answer can tell you a lot about a person. Ask a friend what they think the answer is and how they reached their conclusion.
You’ll see what I mean. 
We also have a simple way to test honesty. (Entrepreneurs are often said to be inherently flexible on matters of honesty, a vastly erroneous claim in our experience.)
Here’s a factual scenario: My sister lost her purse eight times between the ages of 12 and 18 (true story).
Q2: How many times do you think the purse was returned?
Q3: Of the times the purse was returned, how many times do you think it still contained her money?
The answer will depend on your level of trust and distrust, which is usually a reflection of your own capacity for honesty (the degree to which you might have been tempted to do the wrong thing if you had found the purse).
For example, ask a child under 10 this question and then ask a gentleman of eighty. You’ll get a vastly different answer. Ask a priest, then a criminal and you’ll find a similar disparity.
So, how did you rate? How many times did my big sis’ get her purse back?
Eight out of eight.
How many times did the purse still contain her money?
Eight of eight (again).
So, here’s my final test. And I’m seeking your participation (through an online poll).
Below you’ll see an image of a girl turning.
But is she turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?
If clockwise is your answer, then you use more of the right side of your brain (the creative side). If she is turning anti-clockwise, then you use more of the left side of your brain (the analytical side). Most people see the dancer turning anti-clockwise.
But what is the natural reaction of the Australian innovator and entrepreneur?
Help us find out by taking part in our online poll. Are entrepreneurs left brain or right brain thinkers? Is the girl turning clockwise or anti-clockwise? To join us in our not-so-scientific experiment, click here.
Tags: Entrepreneur thinking, poll, Science
May 7th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Very puzzling … I see her changing direction every few seconds … is that a healthy right/left brain mix … or just ADD?
Cheers,
Carol
May 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Wierd,
Im so right brained I couldnt possibly imagine anyone thinking this goes clockwise.
Just look at the lowest foot in the reflection.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Try covering one eye.
“Now I am analytical and now I am not”
May 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hmmm - the same image appeared on The Age yesterday, I think, but in a different colour - it turned clockwise any which way I looked at it.
Today, on your site, it turns anti-clockwise…
May 7th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
She is clearly moving clockwise
May 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I initially saw it clock wise and couldn’t for the life of me see anything else…
Than I thought I would stimulate my right side of the brain - I tried this out - started thinking analytical/mathematical things - doing the multipication tables in my head, add long numbers together etc… incredibly she changed directions.
Than i driftyed back into what could i have for lunch and started thingking of teh most weird and creative things i could do - low and behold she changed directions again…
Lots of fun!
g
May 7th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Wow. I’ve chosen the right profession after all
As a graphic designer I’m pleased to say this is without doubt Clockwise. Can I use this on my own website? http://www.omnificdesign.com.au/
May 7th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Hmmmm - I’m seeing her clockwise which makes me a right-brainer - but my left-brain keeps kicking in and asking - is there some reason why this image has to be of a naked woman?
May 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Oh Deb, that is hysterical. I kept thinking the same thing.
But sadly no matter what I think about or how many times I close one eye, or look away, or hop on one foot - our naked lady only turns clockwise!!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Yep, anti-clockwise for me. Not the first time I’ve seen this, I cannot get her to move clockwise no matter how many different “techniques” I try.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Nothing to do with right left brain stuff.
The dancer is leading with the extended leg so she’s going……. around in a balanced way because there is no other way to go without falling over. Could equally go the other way.
Whether this has anything to do with clocks is more a question of who on earth decided which way the first clock rotated.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
She’s turning clockwise. And she’s cold.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
No matter how many times I have seen this, I always see her going clockwise… try as I might, I can’t comprehend how you could possibly see this going anti-clockwise!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
It was going clockwise for me but once i started counting in my head adding numbers and looking at her heal she would turn anti clock wise, then clock wise then anti clock wise , wow thats odd
May 7th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Well Ive tried counting in my head, closing one eye, looking at her heel… everything you guys have suggested but she is stuck in the on button for clockwise! And I am an artist, author and every other creative thing you could label me so it definitely says something about right brain. My boyfriend who is completely process and results driven sees her going anti clockwise.
Deb I love your comment about why she has to be naked, and Karlos sorry to burst your bubble but she might not be cold, or aroused for that matter… some women’s breasts just look like that all the time.
Great idea Wes about using this on your website, think I will too. www.untappedpotential.com.au
May 7th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I’ve tried so hard to make her go anti-clockwise… I’ve come back to this page several times actually, and all it does is hurt my eyes!
I find this quite interesting because I am a designer and a musician, so the theory logically it makes sense; yet, I am also quite an analytical and critical thinker (some say I think too much). Maybe my creative side is more dominant than I thought. See, there I go thinking again!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
It’s not really spinning at all, the image just turns one way and then back the other. Your brain just thinks it’s spinning! True story.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I doubt this has anything to do with right or left brain dominance. I see it mostly clockwise, and am a computer programmer so supposedly very left-brain dominant, although I tend to like creative pursuits. I can make it go anti-clockwise, not by counting in my head, but by narrowing my eyes until I reduce the visual cues, and waiting. Once it goes anti, I can open my eyes while focusing on the movement, and it stays anti for a bit, but if I am distracted or relax my focus it tends to clockwise again. My guess is the initial direction you see it is arbitrary, and once you have seen it that way you reinforce that direction in your brain so more likely to see it that way again. If you manage to swap it and then focus on it you would probably find yourself seeing it that way more easily after a while. It obviously has to do with your visual-spatial system, and there is no reason that left o right brain dominance would influence a directional interpretation. A better test would be an image that people could interpret either symbolically or graphically.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
sure, i am analytical
sure, i see her going anti-clockwise
i am surprised by how others can see any different!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
You are correct it does actually turn one way and then the other
I see myself as an entrepreneur and I see it go one way then it decides to turn and go the other way. But if I try I can actually control it with my mind to go which ever way I wish.
Maybe an entrepreneur can actually control left and right brain function. Correct me if I’m wrong.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I see her spinning clockwise and find it practically impossible to think of her spinning the other way, logically though it must depend on your perspective i.e. if you’re looking at her from the bottom up or top down.
As an example, grab an object like your phone, with the top of it facing you, spin it clockwise. Keep spinning your phone in the same direction but change your perspective so the bottom is facing you, it should now be spinning anti-clockwise.
Apply the same principle to the girl, top down she spins clockwise (focus on the top of her hand), bottom up she spins anti-clockwise (focus on the bottom of her foot). Enjoy!
May 8th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Straight of the bat and easily, I see it clockwise.
But as suggested, when looking at the lower foot, I can easily see it go anti clockwise also and hold it which every way I want to keep seeing it. I can swithc it when ever I want.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:49 am
If you shake her up and down with your scroll wheel you can get her to go both ways.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
For about the first minute the direction was clearly clockwise, then suddenly the direction switched as the lifted foot crossed through the profile of the other leg. Now I can easily switch the interpretation at will and each direction appears equally valid. Very interesting experiment!