How Creative Thinking Helps You Solve Problems Faster (And Actually Better)

How Creative Thinking Helps You Solve Problems Faster (And Actually Better)

I break down why solving problems the same way as everyone else keeps you stuck. And look, this is something I see all the time. Engineers hit a problem, Google it, find the first Stack Overflow answer, and ship it. Rinse and repeat. But here’s the thing: that approach only gets you so far. Creative thinking helps you spot patterns others miss, tackle challenges with fresh ideas, and ship solutions that are both faster and more effective. It’s not about being “artistic” or thinking outside the box for the sake of it. It’s about questioning assumptions, exploring alternatives, and asking “wait, what if we approached this completely differently?” In this video, you’ll learn how to build a mindset that makes your work sharper and more original. I’ll show you practical techniques to break out of default thinking patterns, how to reframe problems so solutions become obvious, and why the best engineering breakthroughs often come from challenging the “obvious” approach. Because let’s face it: the engineers who stand out aren’t the ones who memorize the most frameworks or write the most lines of code. They’re the ones who see problems differently and come up with solutions that make everyone else think “why didn’t I think of that?” So, let’s talk about how to become “that engineer” ⚡️ I’ve built tons of projects on my GitHub [https://github.com/pH-7] over the years. Check them out for inspiration or jump in to contribute! I’ve got more content coming your way on my LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ph7enry]! Hit that follow button so you don’t miss out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pierrehenry.dev [https://www.pierrehenry.dev?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

BUILD EVERY PROJECT YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO BUILD

Most software engineers have a list of projects they want to build but never touch. Sound familiar? You’ve got that side project idea saved in your notes, maybe even a GitHub repo with a README and nothing else. This video breaks down the real reasons projects stay stuck in your head and shows how to actually build consistently without burnout, pressure, or fake motivation. This isn’t about hustle culture or forcing yourself to code every night after work. It’s about clarity, direction, and building what truly matters to you in a way that actually sticks. Because here’s the thing: the problem isn’t usually lack of time or skill. It’s lack of a system that makes building feel natural instead of like another obligation on your to-do list. Thanks for reading The Healthy Scientist: Build Using AI With Healthy Habits 🔥! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. I’ve built many projects on my GitHub [https://github.com/pH-7] over the years. Check them out for inspiration or contribution! I’ve got plenty more content coming your way on my LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ph7enry]! Hit the ‘follow’ button so you won’t miss out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pierrehenry.dev [https://www.pierrehenry.dev?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

How Modern Engineers Build Faster Than Ever

There’s a quiet shift happening in the way software engineers work. New tools are reshaping how we think, create, and ship projects in ways that weren’t possible even a year ago. This video explores how these changes open new possibilities and help you produce better work with less friction and wasted effort. The engineers adapting to this shift aren’t just working faster. They’re working differently, leveraging AI and modern tooling to handle the tedious parts while focusing their energy on design, architecture, and solving real problems. If you’re still working the old way, you’re already falling behind. Let’s talk about what’s changing and how to stay ahead. 🔥Subscribe for free to receive new posts 🔥 I’ve built countless projects on my GitHub [https://github.com/pH-7] over the years. Take a look for inspiration or jump in to contribute! I’ve got plenty more exciting content coming your way on my LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ph7enry]! Make sure to hit that follow button so you don’t miss out! 🔥 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pierrehenry.dev [https://www.pierrehenry.dev?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

How I Research and Build Complex AI Systems From Scratch

Most people talk about AI. Very few actually show how real AI research happens. In this video, I walk through how I research, structure, and build complex AI systems as a software engineer. From breaking down vague problems, validating ideas, and turning them into solid architectures, this is the practical side of AI that rarely gets shown. If you want to move beyond surface-level AI content and understand how real systems are actually built, this one is for you. Thanks for reading The Healthy Scientist: Build Using AI With Healthy Habits 🎁 I’ve developed numerous projects on my GitHub [https://github.com/pH-7] over the years. Feel free to browse them for inspiration or to contribute! And I’ve got more content coming your way on my LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ph7enry]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pierrehenry.dev [https://www.pierrehenry.dev?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ship Any Feature in Record Time Without Breaking Anything

Learn how to move from idea to production quickly without losing quality. This video shows the exact steps engineers use to plan, release, and monitor features fast whilst avoiding common pitfalls. Perfect for anyone who wants to deliver faster and smarter. Look, shipping fast doesn’t mean shipping rubbish. Too many engineers think speed and quality are opposites, but that’s not true. The best engineers I know ship quickly because they’ve got systems in place that let them move fast without breaking things. Here’s the thing: moving from idea to production quickly is all about reducing friction at each step. You need a clear process that gets you from “we should build this” to “it’s live and working” without endless meetings, unclear requirements, or last-minute disasters. First, clarify what you’re building. I can’t stress this enough. Write down the feature in one sentence. What problem does it solve? Who’s it for? If you can’t explain it simply, you’ll waste time building the wrong thing. Next, break it down into small, shippable chunks. Don’t try to build everything at once. Identify the absolute minimum version that solves the core problem. Ship that first. Then iterate. This approach means you get feedback early, catch issues before they become disasters, and actually deliver value faster than trying to perfect everything upfront. Plan just enough. Not 50-page specs. Just enough to know what you’re building, what could go wrong, and how you’ll test it. I usually spend 30 minutes sketching out the approach, identifying potential problems, and writing down the main tasks. That’s it. Release carefully, but don’t overthink it. Use feature flags (AKA Feature toggle) if you can. Deploy to staging first. Test the critical paths. But don’t wait for “perfect conditions” to ship. Perfect conditions don’t exist. Ship when it works, monitor it closely, and fix issues as they come up. And here’s the crucial bit: monitoring. Once it’s live, you need to know if something breaks. Set up basic alerts, check error logs, watch key metrics. Too many engineers ship features and forget about them. The best ones stay vigilant for the first few days after release. I’ve built tons of product-centric projects on my GitHub [https://github.com/pH-7] over the years. Feel free to check them out for inspiration or jump in to contribute! I’ve got more content coming your way on my LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ph7enry]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pierrehenry.dev [https://www.pierrehenry.dev?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]