You should “reinvent the wheel”
“Don’t reinvent the wheel” is often uttered with a certain smugness, an air of knowing superiority. It implies that there’s a singular, perfect solution to every problem, a definitive blueprint waiting to be copied. Yet, as comforting as it may seem, this adage is deeply flawed, a relic of historical misunderstanding and a potent inhibitor of true innovation.
The very foundation of the “Don’t reinvent the wheel” mentality rests on a distorted perception of history. We are often taught that the wheel was a singular invention, a stroke of genius that emerged from a single cradle of civilisation. But the truth is far richer and more inspiring. The wheel was reinvented — independently — in multiple civilisations. Mesopotamia and India, for example, cradles of civilisations, saw the wheel emerge not as a single entity but as a tool adapted to different applications. The wheel was reinvented for carts, wagons, and chariots, each fulfilling a unique need and demonstrating the adaptability and ingenuity of human thought.
This historical reality shatters the illusion of a single perfect wheel, a static object forever frozen in its original form. Instead, it reveals a dynamic process of continuous reinvention, each iteration building upon the foundation of the previous, pushing the boundaries of what a wheel could be. Therefore, the “Don’t reinvent the wheel” mentality becomes an insidious force that stifles innovation by trapping us in a cage of established solutions. It discourages exploration, testing new boundaries, and the pursuit of better, more efficient, and more impactful solutions. In essence, it hinders progress by advocating for stagnation.
Imagine, for instance, the world we would live in if we had adhered to the “Don’t reinvent the wheel” mantra. The automobile would have remained a horse-drawn carriage, the internet, a telegraph system, and space travel a distant dream. Every significant leap forward in human history, every advancement that has shaped our world, has been born from the audacity to question the status quo, to dare to imagine a better wheel.
The counterargument often raised is that reinventing the wheel wastes time and resources. Why, it is argued, should we expend precious energy re-creating something already existing? This argument, however, fails to consider the full potential of reinvention. It neglects the possibility that reinventing the wheel could lead to a more efficient, sustainable, or effective wheel in a specific context. It also doesn’t take into account of how current solutions accumulate debt that require significant time and resources to manage, that could otherwise be redirected towards developing a new solution that, by design, addresses the debt of the original one.
Furthermore, the fear of reinventing the wheel ignores the inherent truth that every advancement, every new invention, involves a significant investment of time and resources. Building a skyscraper, developing a new medicine, or even creating a new mobile phone app requires substantial effort and expense. Yet, we readily embrace these ventures because we recognise the potential for positive change and progress that benefits society.
The actual value lies not in simply replicating what already exists but in reimagining and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s about taking the wheel, understanding its core functionality, and then asking: Can we make it lighter? More durable? Can we design it for a new purpose? Can we integrate it into a new system?
Reinvention is not about blind innovation for its sake. It’s about a conscious, deliberate process of reimagining, adapting existing solutions to new contexts, and crafting more efficient, effective, and sustainable solutions. It’s about asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, and seeking a better wheel.
Ultimately, the phrase “Don’t reinvent the wheel” is an intellectually lazy adage, a convenient excuse for inaction and promotes a reliance on potentially suboptimal practices and products. It represents a fear of the unknown and a reluctance to embrace the power of creative problem-solving. Instead, we should embrace the spirit of continuous improvement, reimagining, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Only then can we truly harness the transformative potential of human innovation and forge a future where the wheel is not simply a relic of the past but a catalyst for progress.
The wheel, as a symbol of human ingenuity, should never be seen as something static, something to be simply copied and replicated. It should be a constant source of inspiration, a reminder of our ability to adapt, innovate, and always strive for a better wheel. Let us not be content with the wheels of yesterday. Let us be the architects of tomorrow’s wheels that will propel us towards a brighter, more sustainable, and more equitable future.
