--- title: "Moonshot Thinking" id: "10137" type: "page" slug: "moonshot-thinking" published_at: "2021-11-22T10:13:46+00:00" modified_at: "2024-01-01T15:17:34+00:00" url: "https://okrexperts.com/okr-method/moonshot-thinking/" markdown_url: "https://okrexperts.com/okr-method/moonshot-thinking.md" excerpt: "[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” background_color=”#ffffff”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text el_class=”yoast_breadcrumb”][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text] Moonshot Thinking: Definition & Examples [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]Moonshot Thinking is a way for us to think beyond our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to find new solutions. It’s..." --- [#](#) [OKR](https://okrexperts.com/okr-objectives-and-key-results-top-award-winning-okr-consulting/) > [OKR Method](https://okrexperts.com/okr-method/) > **Moonshot Thinking** # Moonshot Thinking: Definition & Examples Moonshot Thinking is a way for us to think beyond our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to **find new solutions**. It’s about thinking “outside of the box”. It’s about looking at ideas from different angles and **never giving up** on an **idea, no matter how many times it is rejected**. The word “moonshot” is a metaphor derived from the Apollo program with which NASA landed on the moon. The original moon landing was about going to the extreme and achieving an **impossible goal**. The **[OKR method](https://okrexperts.com/okr-method/)** makes **use of moonshot thinking**, as do other methods for goal setting. In this blog post, we will discuss how managers or OKR Product Owners can use moonshot thinking to support their teams. **Inhalt** [verbergen](#) [1 The three main principles of moonshot thinking](#The_three_main_principles_of_moonshot_thinking) [2 Examples of moonshot thinking](#Examples_of_moonshot_thinking) [3 Lecture: 10-fold growth, thanks to OKR! – The secret behind Moonshot Thinking and 10x Thinking](#Lecture_10-fold_growth_thanks_to_OKR_-_The_secret_behind_Moonshot_Thinking_and_10x_Thinking) [4 Conclusion: Moonshot Thinking for more success in the company](#Conclusion_Moonshot_Thinking_for_more_success_in_the_company) ## The three main principles of moonshot thinking - The first principle of moonshot thinking is **the need** to find a problem worth solving - The second principle is to find out **what** is preventing us from achieving our goal - And finally, we must be prepared to **take risks** and not let fears hold us back We need leaders who think big and create this kind of change for companies. **What are you willing to do** to improve the company? **How far are you willing** to go? Moonshot thinking is not about how much money or time you need, but about what goals would cause exponential growth in the company. A **real moonshot has no limits and knows no failure**. What is stopping us from realizing these kinds of ideas? Perhaps it is fear or doubt in ourselves or in others. **We have to believe in ourselves and others** if we want something other than what we have. [Moonshot/10x workshop](https://okrexperten.de/okr-workshop/moonshot-10x-workshop/) ## Examples of moonshot thinking Probably **the best-known example of moonshot thinking** comes from US President John F. Kennedy – and **the name is derived** from this: **“We choose to go to the Moon”** This was the announcement on May 25, 1961 that a man would **land on the moon** at the end of this century **and then return safely to Earth**. The German-born rocket engineer Wernher von Braun wrote at the time: “To achieve this, the rockets would have to be ten times [10x!] more powerful.” Hence the term **“10x thinking”**. Many visionaries, such as **Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, and companies also use moonshot thinking**. The best-known companies include: - Google - SpaceX - Tesla motors - Apple - Facebook Here are some examples of **questions that can be a basis for moonshots**: - Elon Musk: What if we were able to colonize Mars and establish life there? - What if we could develop a pill that would cure cancer? - What if we could develop a machine that would allow us to live forever? - What if we could develop an artificial intelligence that was indistinguishable from humans? - How can I make my blog post more interesting for readers who are not interested in this topic? And here are the **matching moonshots**: - Elon Musk: Being able to colonize Mars and establish life there. - Developing a pill that cures cancer. - Develop a machine that enables us to live forever. - Develop an artificial intelligence that is indistinguishable from humans. - Make my blog post more interesting for readers who are not interested in this topic. **Moonshot thinking does not always have to be associated with growth.** For example, the HR department can aim to **reduce** onboarding costs by a **factor of 10**. For example, through automated onboarding with a video course. ## Lecture: 10-fold growth, thanks to OKR! – The secret behind Moonshot Thinking and 10x Thinking Ambitious goals without excessive demands and demotivation. Lecture on 9.05.2022 with bestselling author, management consultant and trainer Erno Marius Obogeanu-Hempel You are currently viewing a placeholder content from **YouTube**. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers. [More Information](#) [Unblock content](#) [Accept required service and unblock content](#) ## Conclusion: Moonshot Thinking for more success in the company With so many examples of moonshot thinking and its success, it is no wonder that **more and more companies are using this innovative method to achieve their goals**. We hope you found these three principles helpful in understanding what can be achieved with a little Moonshot Thinking! If you want to use the innovation-promoting mindset of Moonshot Thinking for your company, we offer a **Moonshot / 10x workshop**. If you have already implemented the OKR method, all the better – or we will be happy to support you in this too. The moonshot/10x workshop is **a half-day or one-day hands-on workshop** in which you get to know the principles of moonshot thinking and experience how you can apply them in your company – to your specific issues. 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Erno Marius Obogeanu-Hempel und viele weitere OKR-Experten® [tel:+4989215295299](tel:+4989215295299) [+49 89 21 52 952 – 99](tel:+4989215295299) [Erstgespräch vereinbaren](https://okrexperten.de/kontakt/) [OKR-Einführung](https://okrexperten.de/okr-methode/okr-einfuehrung/) [OKR-Trainings](https://okrexperten.de/okr-training/) [OKR-Workshops](https://okrexperten.de/okr-workshop/) [OKR-Experten](https://okrexperten.de/okr-training/okr-zertifizierung/) [OKR-Bücher](https://okrexperten.de/okr-buch/) [OKR-Vorträge](https://okrexperten.de/okr-vortrag/) **OKR-Experten zum Best of Consulting 2023 von der WirtschaftsWoche ausgezeichnet** Die OKR-Experten haben mit ihrer Beratungskompetenz überzeugen können – sie wurden mit dem Best of Consulting Mittelstand Award 2023 der WirtschaftsWoche ausgezeichnet und zählen damit zu den besten Mittelstandsberatern Deutschlands. **OKR-Experten zum Top Consultant 2023 ausgezeichnet** Die OKR-Experten haben mit ihrer Beratungskompetenz überzeugen können – sie wurden mit dem TOP CONSULTANT-Siegel 2023 ausgezeichnet und zählen damit zu den besten Mittelstandsberatern Deutschlands. - [Deutsch](https://okrexperten.de/okr-methode/moonshot-thinking/) - [English](https://okrexperts.com/okr-method/moonshot-thinking/)