It’s amazing what ordinary people can do if they set out without preconceived notions.

The remark praises the power of initiative and open-mindedness over pedigree or specialized status. By stressing “ordinary people,” Stein frames achievement as broadly accessible, not reserved for elites. The key condition is approaching a task “without preconceived notions”—that is, without inherited assumptions about what is possible, what “must” be done, or who is entitled to succeed. The quote aligns with a pragmatic, anti-dogmatic ethos: fresh eyes can notice options experts overlook, and freedom from conventional expectations can enable experimentation, persistence, and creative problem-solving. It also implies a critique of cynicism and self-limiting narratives that discourage people from attempting ambitious work.