Thinking 2 Think
Thinking 2 Think
Michael A Aponte
Why Smart People Make Dumb Decisions: The Knowing-Thinking Gap in Leadership
23 minutes Posted Jan 28, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
The Cardiologist And 2008
The Knowing–Thinking Gap Defined
Four Levels: Recall To Transfer
Education Rewards Memorization
Expertise Blindness And Ossified Models
Case Study: JPMorgan Vs Merrill Thinking
Schools: Knowing Pedagogy, Missing Transfer
Cognitive Dissonance And Identity
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Send us Fan Mail Why do highly educated people make catastrophically bad decisions? In this episode, Mike Aponte reveals the "knowing-thinking gap"—the critical difference between memorizing information and actually thinking critically. Drawing on his experience as a Merrill Lynch wealth manager during the 2008 financial crisis, Mike shares the story of a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon who "knew" finance but couldn't think strategically about his portfolio. He also explores why high school...