The Brachistochrone
Mindset
Intuition vs. Physics
The Intuitive Path
The Straight Line
It looks faster. It feels efficient. But in a world governed by gravity and friction, the straight line lacks momentum.
Result: A fast start, but perhaps a slow finish.
The Physics Path
The Brachistochrone
The path drops steeply at first. It looks like a detour. But by diving deep, it uses gravity to generate massive speed.
Result: A slow start, but the fastest possible finish.
The Steph Curry Paradox
Consider NBA superstar Steph Curry. In high school, his shot mechanics were flawed—he was shooting from his waist. To reach the NBA, his father told him he had to completely rebuild his form.
Curry spent an entire summer literally getting worse at shooting so he could eventually become the greatest shooter in history. He had to “dip into the curve” to accelerate. A straight-line improvement plan would have kept him good, but prevented him from becoming great.
The Feedback Curve
We see this same dynamic in workplace feedback. Leaders often strive for maximum efficiency, assuming that direct, “straight-line” feedback is the best path.
But if psychological safety isn’t established, that efficient line leads to a dead end. Sometimes, the longer, curved path of relationship building—slowing down to connect before you critique—is actually the fastest way to behavior change.
Reframe Your Career
When we stack ourselves against peers, we often look for the linear path: BA to MA to PhD to Tenure. But the Brachistochrone Mindset reminds us that indirectness is an asset.
Whether you are a wrestler turned musician, or an artist turned scientist, the “wild, nonlinear curve” provides a unique momentum that the straight line can never replicate.
Discover how physics challenges our perception of progress.