“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?”
What do you think?
This is a question posed by Abraham Lincoln to his team. His answer to them? “Four. Calling it something it is not, does not change reality.”
Sometimes we want to see an external situation one way so we make a story about it for ourselves that makes us feel better. Sure, we can call it optimism, and there is a positive side to doing that. But when you make important decisions based on your errant views, you make the wrong decisions.
At our School of Entrepreneurship, we say “To set things right, you have to see things right.”
What sticky situation do you have in your life? Before you make a decision about it, are you seeing it right?
Sometimes it’s best to stand back and look at it from an outside perspective. A lot of times emotions run your thoughts and actions and you are too close to the situation to make a good decision for the team. In reality it’s all about them, not you.
Whatever our situation [good, bad, or indifferent], we got ourselves in the situation. Own it, accept it, and change it if you don’t like it.
My sticky situation right now not seeing eye-to-eye on what I should be able to do in my position. I’m a senior-level executive and being kept under a thumb. Am I looking at it right? It’s not my company and if I agree to work here, then I have to be okay with what my job duties are. That’s how I’m looking at it. I’m also looking to leave because I take my own advice.
Fantastic. Thanks!!!