Reader

Back in December 2023 I published MindPrep 233 and made the “shocking” statement that people and organizations are trying to bend your mind to their way of thinking. You can find that issue HERE if you want to refresh your memory.

Thirteen months later the political and social media pressures have only made this worse, so here are some questions to ask yourself to keep controversial topics straight in YOUR mind. These are not the only questions, but they may be a good starting point.

Some questions to determine the truth of a controversial statement

1. What exactly is being claimed and is the statement clear and specific, or is it vague or ambiguous?

2. What evidence supports this statement and what are the qualifications, expertise, or potential biases of the source?

3. What assumptions underpin this statement and are these assumptions valid, or do they need further scrutiny?

4. Does the statement rely on evidence, anecdotal events, or personal opinion?

5. What biases might influence the person making this claim?

6. Does the statement rely on correlation instead of causation and is it possible that other factors are at play?

7. Who benefits if this statement is true and what would it mean if the statement were false?

8. Can the statement be tested?

9. How do subject-matter experts view this claim?

10. Am I ignoring evidence that challenges my own viewpoint?

An example

Statement: "Artificial intelligence will eliminate more jobs than it creates."

• What data supports this prediction? Are there studies or reports backing this claim? (Can you find the source for the claim?)
• Who is making this claim, and what is their expertise or potential bias? (Is this a claim from a social media “influencer” looking for “likes” or from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?)
• What do alternative experts say about AI and job creation? (Is the expert from OpenAI or from McKinsey?)
• Is there a historical precedent for technology displacing jobs but also creating new opportunities? (How is this like and unlike the personal computer and the Internet?)
• What assumptions are built into this claim? (No new industries will emerge.)

2025 writing goals

The weekly issue of MindPrep will continue as an email subscription and will focus on tools and skills for “the reader.” I’ll try to keep it concise.

The bi-weekly issue of The Prepared Mind, published on LinkedIn, will be longer pieces that address our intention to help leaders learn from the past, deal with the present, and intercept the future. (This week’s article visits the 1991 book Crossing the Chasm and applies it to AI.) It’s on LinkedIn.

I’m in the process of investigating tools and techniques for building strategic foresight, and plan to write a short follow-on to The Prepared Mind of a Leader which was published almost twenty years ago.

Interested in self-study?

We have some self-study courses waiting for you. Check them out or send me questions about anything that needs further explanation. Here they are:

Strategic Mindset Minicourse (Free – click HERE)

How to Think Critically and Strategically (online video course - click HERE)

Don’t be Taken by Surprise (online video course - click HERE)

Eight Skills of a Prepared Mind (online video course - click HERE)

Turning Strategy into Action Minicourse (online video course – click HERE)

Resolving Complex Business Problems (online video course on Udemy – click HERE)

Cheers,

Bill