I love whiteboards. For some reason, I always feel like I’m tapping into creative juices whenever I’m using them. And I just don’t get the same feeling when I’m working out problems on pen and paper.

But this goes beyond the feeling. Whiteboards are magical for one reason: They can erase easily.

If we are challenging ourselves, we are going to struggle with solving our problems. And that means making mistakes. Writing pen to paper feels like solidifying something to stone. Even with a pencil it’s a commitment. It’s a lot of trouble to go back and erase everything.

But with a whiteboard, it’s simple. Just write out or draw as much as you like. And when it’s not panning out, pull out the eraser and quickly restart. It’s that simple.

Whiteboards offer the mindset of someone willing to start over. Doesn’t mean it’s the only medium to do so. But the point I’m trying to make is that we have to be willing to fail and fail and fail.

Because if we keep trying, the solutions will be even closer in reach