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The Joyner Perspective: Blog for Leaders View this email in your browser "I feel I change my mind all the time. And I sort of feel that's your responsibility as a person, as a human being – to constantly be updating your positions on as many things as possible. And if you don't contradict yourself on a regular basis, then you're not thinking." ? Malcolm Gladwell There has been this tremendous and mentally enslaving lie that has persisted for generations, and has resulted in countless people dying with too many regrets and a host of unfulfilled dreams. This lie says that changing one's mind, adjusting what you do, or how you do it, or the very act of reversing a course of action or evolving on a belief system, is somehow wrong, and a sign of weakness or failure. Well, I want to be very clear about something: that is complete nonsense and, quite honestly, just stupid. One of the definitions of stupid, as defined by Merriam Webster, is, “marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting”. So, there you have it. Proof right there that it is an act of stupidity to continue down a course that you know no longer makes any reasonable sense. Think about it. Whenever you read about any great leader, you will read about the moment where there was a change of course, or an abandoning of a system that people once believed in or championed. You will often see in their stories where the moment that they changed their mind proved to be one of the most strategically pivotal moments in their life. Understand that you are not perfect. You do and will continue to make mistakes, and there are times that emotion may cloud your decision making. But, that presents to you an opportunity to be brutally honest with yourself about that. You must continuously look at your truth and be honest with yourself about the decisions that you make and why you made them. If your truth does not arise based on sound reasoning, honest reflection, and contemplation, then it is one you may need to change your mind on. It does not matter if it was a truth or view that you made public and championed broadcast, and/or bragged about. It fits under the true definition of stupidity to not change your mind. Yes, there may be a feeling of embarrassment, and there even maybe ridicule. You may have to humble yourself and go and apologize to individuals that you may have previously attacked or called out when you held a different viewpoint, but that is what's required of leaders, and that is what personal evolution sometimes looks like. This is not the same as flip-flopping on a view, position, or decision to appease a crowd because of you being too fearful and cowardly to stand for what you believe in. No—this is about your understanding that life is short, and just like nature itself, we all evolve, and we grow, and we learn. Don't stifle or destroy your personal growth, or the growth of your business or organization, because you were too scared or arrogant to change your mind. Do not see strong truths changing your mind as flip-flopping. That is as stupid as not changing your mind or evolving at all. Remember, one of the most brilliant and powerful statements ever made, was from a young Forrest Gump, when he looked at Jenny said, "Mama always said, stupid is as stupid does." It’s okay, you can change your mind. Keep hustling hard and keep fighting forward, you have got what it takes! Edited by Grace Cox, summer intern currently attending Auburn University Check out this throwback video on being disruptive to shape your views! Copyright © 2019 Joyner Media & Strategies, All rights reserved.
The Joyner Perspective: Blog for Leaders
View this email in your browser
"I feel I change my mind all the time. And I sort of feel that's your responsibility as a person, as a human being – to constantly be updating your positions on as many things as possible. And if you don't contradict yourself on a regular basis, then you're not thinking." ? Malcolm Gladwell There has been this tremendous and mentally enslaving lie that has persisted for generations, and has resulted in countless people dying with too many regrets and a host of unfulfilled dreams. This lie says that changing one's mind, adjusting what you do, or how you do it, or the very act of reversing a course of action or evolving on a belief system, is somehow wrong, and a sign of weakness or failure. Well, I want to be very clear about something: that is complete nonsense and, quite honestly, just stupid. One of the definitions of stupid, as defined by Merriam Webster, is, “marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting”. So, there you have it. Proof right there that it is an act of stupidity to continue down a course that you know no longer makes any reasonable sense. Think about it. Whenever you read about any great leader, you will read about the moment where there was a change of course, or an abandoning of a system that people once believed in or championed. You will often see in their stories where the moment that they changed their mind proved to be one of the most strategically pivotal moments in their life. Understand that you are not perfect. You do and will continue to make mistakes, and there are times that emotion may cloud your decision making. But, that presents to you an opportunity to be brutally honest with yourself about that. You must continuously look at your truth and be honest with yourself about the decisions that you make and why you made them. If your truth does not arise based on sound reasoning, honest reflection, and contemplation, then it is one you may need to change your mind on. It does not matter if it was a truth or view that you made public and championed broadcast, and/or bragged about. It fits under the true definition of stupidity to not change your mind. Yes, there may be a feeling of embarrassment, and there even maybe ridicule. You may have to humble yourself and go and apologize to individuals that you may have previously attacked or called out when you held a different viewpoint, but that is what's required of leaders, and that is what personal evolution sometimes looks like. This is not the same as flip-flopping on a view, position, or decision to appease a crowd because of you being too fearful and cowardly to stand for what you believe in. No—this is about your understanding that life is short, and just like nature itself, we all evolve, and we grow, and we learn. Don't stifle or destroy your personal growth, or the growth of your business or organization, because you were too scared or arrogant to change your mind. Do not see strong truths changing your mind as flip-flopping. That is as stupid as not changing your mind or evolving at all. Remember, one of the most brilliant and powerful statements ever made, was from a young Forrest Gump, when he looked at Jenny said, "Mama always said, stupid is as stupid does." It’s okay, you can change your mind. Keep hustling hard and keep fighting forward, you have got what it takes! Edited by Grace Cox, summer intern currently attending Auburn University
Check out this throwback video on being disruptive to shape your views!
Copyright © 2019 Joyner Media & Strategies, All rights reserved.