how to think like a smart man

Look at problems in different ways and find new perspectives that no one else has found.

When Einstein thought through a problem found it necessary to make as many ways possible, including using diagrams. He visualized solutions, and believed that words and numbers as such did not play a role in his thinking process.
A distinguishing characteristic of genius is productivity. Produce anything!
Failure can be productive only if we focus on it as an unproductive result. Instead, the analysis process, its components and how they can change to get the other results. No wonder "Why not?" but rather "What have I done?"

Combine and recombine, ideas, images and thoughts into different combinations no matter how unusual or strange it may seem. Try new combinations!