If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom.
We learn more from people who challenge our thought process than those who affirm our conclusions. Strong leaders engage their critics and make themselves stronger. Weak leaders silence their critics and make themselves weaker. This reaction isn’t limited to people in power. Although we might be on board with the principle, in practice we often miss out on the value of a challenge network.
Being original doesn’t require being first. It just means being different and better.
We listen to views that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard.
To become original, you have to try something new, which means accepting some measure of risk.
Research reveals that the higher you score on an IQ test, the more likely you are to fall for stereotypes, because you’re faster at recognizing patterns. And recent experiments suggest that the smarter you are, the more you might struggle to update your beliefs.
A mark of lifelong learners is recognizing that they can learn something from everyone they meet.
How do you know? It’s a question we need to ask more often, both of ourselves and of others. The power lies in its frankness. It’s nonjudgmental – a straightforward expression of doubt and curiosity that doesn’t put people on the defensive.