In 20 years of meetings in the family business, when trying to solve a problem, I’d always look at all the obvious things being proposed, and just try to throw out the craziest thing we could do. Sometimes those would be confirmed as - we can’t do that. But sometimes, through the discussion, they turned into my best ideas.
Whenever I’m in a room full of people who overwhelmingly agree on something, I realize there’s likely a serious problem with the thinking and try to find the problem with it.
That’s the funny thing about life. The people throughout history who moved society forward in the biggest ways, always thought differently from the crowd, were mocked and criticized for it, until their ideas revolutionized society (though still often highly criticized).
Most of us will never be that. But maybe we can to a few people around us.
There's this concept called the fifth man where if the other four in a group are in agreement, the fifth has to disagree... wether they actually do or not. The idea is if everyone just agrees then there's probably something we're missing.
Your example of how you do things is awesome! I know it's led to great impact on the community and others!
I first heard of it as an official concept (well other than devils advocate) in the movie World War Z, I think as the 10th man. I then looked it up and discovered Israel began doing this after they were attacked in the early 70’s. Same concept you mentioned. They had a group of 10, and if 9 agreed, the 10th man was not allowed to agree. He was required to dissent.
I think for me, it began in junior high, with the feelings we all have of not fitting in. One night at a party in high school I was just sitting and watching everyone. I could tell they were all drinking and engaging in behavior not because they wanted to, but because it was the safe thing to do because everyone else was doing it.
There were rumors spread about me as a result of my not drinking in high school. Which was interesting, because exactly 0 times did I ever tell anyone in school I didn’t drink, or criticize those that did. It hurt at first, but then I realized - oh, they’re saying this because they’re beyond uncomfortable that someone can participate in social life, and not do what everyone else is doing.
I’m 55 and have yet to taste alcohol. I have no issue with those that do. I just never saw a single benefit, but countless bad things it could lead to. And over the course of my life, have seen countless lives ruined due to substance abuse issues, most of which started as teens trying to fit in.
Thats an interesting thing about history. So many of the worst atrocities happened because of group think.
That was one of the best lessons in WWZ! And that things don't appear like you would think 😆.
Rather than blindly following, asking why we do something or believe something can only do one of two things. Teach us something we were missing or enforce why we believe it. But we won't get there if we never question anything.
Thanks for the lesson along with Tareks today Rob!
In 20 years of meetings in the family business, when trying to solve a problem, I’d always look at all the obvious things being proposed, and just try to throw out the craziest thing we could do. Sometimes those would be confirmed as - we can’t do that. But sometimes, through the discussion, they turned into my best ideas.
Whenever I’m in a room full of people who overwhelmingly agree on something, I realize there’s likely a serious problem with the thinking and try to find the problem with it.
That’s the funny thing about life. The people throughout history who moved society forward in the biggest ways, always thought differently from the crowd, were mocked and criticized for it, until their ideas revolutionized society (though still often highly criticized).
Most of us will never be that. But maybe we can to a few people around us.
It's a willingness and, ultimately, a decision to not conform that brings out the best ideas.
There's this concept called the fifth man where if the other four in a group are in agreement, the fifth has to disagree... wether they actually do or not. The idea is if everyone just agrees then there's probably something we're missing.
Your example of how you do things is awesome! I know it's led to great impact on the community and others!
I first heard of it as an official concept (well other than devils advocate) in the movie World War Z, I think as the 10th man. I then looked it up and discovered Israel began doing this after they were attacked in the early 70’s. Same concept you mentioned. They had a group of 10, and if 9 agreed, the 10th man was not allowed to agree. He was required to dissent.
I think for me, it began in junior high, with the feelings we all have of not fitting in. One night at a party in high school I was just sitting and watching everyone. I could tell they were all drinking and engaging in behavior not because they wanted to, but because it was the safe thing to do because everyone else was doing it.
There were rumors spread about me as a result of my not drinking in high school. Which was interesting, because exactly 0 times did I ever tell anyone in school I didn’t drink, or criticize those that did. It hurt at first, but then I realized - oh, they’re saying this because they’re beyond uncomfortable that someone can participate in social life, and not do what everyone else is doing.
I’m 55 and have yet to taste alcohol. I have no issue with those that do. I just never saw a single benefit, but countless bad things it could lead to. And over the course of my life, have seen countless lives ruined due to substance abuse issues, most of which started as teens trying to fit in.
Thats an interesting thing about history. So many of the worst atrocities happened because of group think.
That was one of the best lessons in WWZ! And that things don't appear like you would think 😆.
Rather than blindly following, asking why we do something or believe something can only do one of two things. Teach us something we were missing or enforce why we believe it. But we won't get there if we never question anything.
Thanks for the lesson along with Tareks today Rob!
You're so great, Tarek! Thank you!
Love this post, Tarek. Color outside the lines!