Let’s say you have decision to make about your career or business or relationship. Importance lies in making the decision with right balance of assertiveness and open mindedness.
We are intuitively wired up to disagree with the opinions which we think are right. That is great barrier for self growth. Isn’t it?.. Imagine we are struck up with our own blizzard of information and ideology. Although it doesn’t make sense to be submissive to any opinion or be aggressive too. Both are wrong. What makes sense is to strike a balance, knowing that you can be wrong, and be bit open minded. That is not as easy as we think, as greatly pointed out by Ray Dalio,Founder of a world’s successful hedge funding company, we have two sides of us inside us. One is intellectual, our thirst to learn and know things. Second is emotional, which is millions of years evolution. The point we have to understand is we are all bounded by our own thoughts and ideologies. Belief that we are always right about it. Spiritually speaking that is what I believe as “Karma” . That may totally affect the way we live and the decisions we make. Especially for a person like me who wishes to be a successful entrepreneur,that’s a huge tip. The decisions you are about to make will save you a lot of resources.
Ideal meritocratic decisions are what going to help us make the ideal decisions. On an interview, Barrack Obama has mentioned the same thing. During his presidential regime, when he is bound to make decisions he is not proficient at or expert at, he calls experts in those topics, potentially people who disagree with each other. He observes the argument and disagreements and make the final decisions. Do not confuse this with democratic way. Democratic is never ideal too. What makes sense in giving all the members equal vote to give their opinions? There can be teachers,students and peers in the same room. It makes no sense to give the teacher and the student the veto power.
What are the internal qualities that we need to adapt to being open minded,receptive and be assertive at the same time? That is the ability to be intellectually inquisitive, that is what will make your journey. After the discussion, one person gets enlightened and other confirms his opinion. It is continuum for both the players. Once you have crossed the tunnel, you are never the same person again. Just like any good habit, you will never be willing to go back. Quality requires humility too, of course. So before making a decision next time thinking you are right, ask yourself, why do you think you are right?
Happy new year friends.
Aakash's Blog 