One of my main goals with this blog is to develop my point of view on the world (and in turn, help you develop yours).
But why is a point of view important? It’s a good question. Emory professor John Kim poses an interesting answer in one of his blog posts. He says that consultants (and businesspeople in general) are paid to take a stance – not to build a pros & cons list. While it’s good to recognize both sides of an argument, at the end of the day, you need to be the type of person that is able to weigh the considerations and make the tough decisions.
And this extends beyond business. In your personal life, are you a passive observer of the world around you, or do you actually have strong beliefs?
Don’t be the log that floats down the middle of the stream your whole life. Strive to wash up on shore every once in a while. Take a stand for what you believe in.
How to Develop Your Point of View
- Read (and listen) more. You want to be someone that can actually support a point of view, and the first step in that process is actually learning more about the world itself.
- Think critically and actively. It’s easy to be a collector of information and a generally agreeable person. I used to read the news every morning without ever thinking, “what do I actually think of what’s happening?” Critically analyze what’s going on and seek opportunities to disagree with people.
- Recognize that you can (and will) change your mind. Ultimately, this is what distinguishes a mature point of view. Yes, have a strong perspective, but be okay with changing your mind when presented with new facts.
With this blog, I encourage you to engage with the content, think critically, and disagree with what I say. The same underlying facts can be arranged to support a multitude of perspectives, so I encourage you to share yours.
Are you a log floating down the middle of the stream? Or can you actually take a stand when it matters?
Let’s build a point of view.
