Monday, March 11, 2019

On Consistency of Thought

“[Jeff Bezos] said people who were right a lot of the time were people who often changed their minds. He doesn’t think consistency of thought is a particularly positive trait. It’s perfectly healthy — encouraged, even — to have an idea tomorrow that contradicted your idea today.”

One of the biggest stressors of our personal and professional careers - are difficult people. A long time ago, I came to the realization that in general, 2-3% of people you interact with will be outright impossible. Not, they disagree with you, but they don't agree with anyone. Their method of operating in life is being difficult. When you understand that, it's a lot easier to accept.

So often, it's due to a reluctance on realizing they need to change the way they think. I've been able to break through to a number of people that fall in this category, but so often, the effort is so immensely disprapportionate to the results. What you can usually get across to someone on a tradional "reasonable spectrum", typically takes 3-4X longer and half the time, it takes a step backward before it moves forward.

Our minds are complex and one of the great characteristics of humans are that we don't instinctively t get into sheep mentality, although, I'll argue we can fall prey to it.

The most successful entrepreneurs I work with are flexible in their approach, and fixed on their goals. They understand that they need to adjust accordingly. Adjust to market feedback. Adjust their product. Adjust their pitch.

The unsuccessful ones tend to be 100% fixed on their approach. It doesn't work like that. It is a fundamental lack of understanding. If you always yell at people when  you are angry, and it doesn't get results, you need to realize that your approach is broken. There must be a better way.

In general, the only think fixed about your mindset are your principles and positivity.

Best,
Eric Corl