Think of all the most innovative cultures. What do they all have in common? Cold seasons. You cannot afford to be lazy in a cold, seasonal climate: - You can’t live impulsively. If you don’t stock food or plan winter shelter, you’re dead - You must cooperate, or you’re dead - You must delay gratification, or you’re dead - You must create tools, preserve food and build storage systems, or you’re dead Lazy, shortsighted behavior is punishable by death. Cognitive load increases and forward thinking becomes a selective breeding trait. The closer to the equator you are, the less change there is. Resource abundance and constant climate mean no pressure to innovate, no long-term planning requirements. Warmth means comfort and comfort means complacency (biologically speaking). Seasonal cognition is what led to the invention of calendars, agriculture and scheduling. The environmental force that paved the way for: - Industrial revolutions - Scientific method - Modern infrastructure Innovation thrives where the future is uncertain and immediate gratification is punished. Future orientation is an environmental phenomenon.