Four careers over 50+ years. USMC, engineering, consulting, education. Past twenty years have focused on helping leaders become and remain relevant during times of change.
MindPrep 286 – Socrates, Feynman, and you?
|
Reader "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool." Richard Feynman Socrates, René Descartes, Carl Sagan, James Randi, Richard Feynman, and Penn & Teller were all practical skeptics. They demonstrated: Critical Inquiry: Asking tough questions and demanding clear evidence. Open-Mindedness: Being willing to change views when presented with better evidence. How about you? Are you a practical skeptic? “They” are trying to bend your mind (still and again)MindPrep 233 (HERE) and MindPrep 285 (HERE) posed the challenge that people and organizations are trying to influence our thinking. Sometimes this attempt is for a good reason (e.g., your parents, a teacher) and sometimes it’s for a not-so-good reason. And sometimes it seems so wild or goofy that you say, “How could anyone fall for that?” But we do. (Well, at least some of us do.)
Watch for red flagsUnrealistic Promises: If it sounds too good, it likely isn’t true. Upfront Payments: Legitimate offers don’t require fees to access rewards. Time Pressure: "Act now or lose this deal!" creates urgency to cloud judgment. Lack of Transparency: If the terms, conditions, or details seem vague or hidden, it’s a red flag. Everyday skepticism – 3 recommendationsAsk Key Questions:
Evaluate Sources: Check for credibility, authority, and potential biases. Follow the Money: Analyze motivations behind claims (e.g., financial incentives, political agendas). Bottom line: It pays to be a skeptic. May I ask a favor?If you like my weekly musing, please forward this to a friend or colleague. They can get on my email list, which is never shared, by clicking HERE. Cheers, Bill |
Bill @ MindPrep
Four careers over 50+ years. USMC, engineering, consulting, education. Past twenty years have focused on helping leaders become and remain relevant during times of change.
Reader, In December 1952, London disappeared. London, 1952 A temperature inversion trapped coal smoke over the city and visibility dropped to feet. Smog wasn’t new and “dirty air” was so normal that people had adapted to it. London relied heavily on coal for a long time. They needed it for home heating, power generation, and industrial operations. And because of the cold, residents were burning more coal to stay warm However, the coal used was high in sulfur and when burned, it produced:...
Reader As you may (or may not) recall from the last Reflection, TJ was challenging an old guy (me) about writing today. After all, I’m full of “old information” and the world has changed a LOT. At the end of last week’s reflection, I commented on Ackoff’s concept of “formulating the mess.” Here are some notes on the application of his thinking to today’s world. I’ve mentioned the concept of system wickedness in several reflections so I’m not going to dig into that. However, although...
Reader, So, why should I write another book? TJ posed that question and not-so-subtly challenged me with “Sure, you’re kind of smart, but as an old dude your knowledge is out of date. After all, The Prepared Mind of a Leader was published twenty years ago.” 2006 The point of the 2006 book was to examine the skills leaders needed to be better prepared for a changing world. Is 2026 really that different from 2006? Maybe not, but I think leaders at all levels are being challenged in new ways....