How Much Do We Really Know?

Another nice lesson from Robin Sharma.... Happy reading..

Contrary to popular belief, we don't know much. As individuals, as a species, our information isn't great and there is so much out there that isn't clearly understood. And all those who state otherwise, or who never admit to having their own shortcomings, shouldn't be taken seriously. My information isn't perfect, yours isn't perfect, your neighbours and friends isn't perfect. But that's the beauty of it all - all that's out there to discover, to invest ourselves in new knowledge and discovery, and creating new and better ways of doing things. As we progress, we easily understand that yesterday's thinking was perhaps foolish, or short-sighted, or simply flat out wrong. Our fast-paced society has no time for yesterday, and the best practices spread around the world like wildfire. We learn, we grow, and we move on. So why share this? Because knowing our weaknesses, knowing our areas for improvement, is the quickest and best way to our personal and professional development. As clearly demonstrated by this recent economic turmoil, businesses don't have a great understanding of how the world works. If they did, and their information was perfect, our world wouldn't be going through such turbulent times. So it's the businesses, and best leaders, that develop new business models, dedicate themselves to innovation and experiment, and pursue their ideas at a frantic pace that will find the best success. Here's the lesson: personally or professionally, what you don't know could be your biggest strength. Starting tomorrow morning, and for the next 7 days, dedicate 30 to 60 minutes (your Holy Hour) to thinking retrospectively, uncovering your business' limitations and areas for improvement in your personal and professional life. And be remarkably honest with yourself. By knowing these limitations, you'll be able to move forward with greater clarity, passion, and awareness. You'll see new areas for improvement, increased focus on your goals and where to ideate, and new best practices for leveraging opportunities. Remember, this exercise might not be comfortable at first, it might be confusing, but it could be the single best practice you complete this year. In Leadership, Robin