#137: It’s the idea, stupid

Here’s a game I want you to play. For this one week listen to the message, not the messenger. I’ll say it again: listen to the message, not the messenger. In other words, focus on what is said, not on who is saying it.

Too many good ideas are not heard simply because we focus on the person with the idea instead of on the idea itself. And if we don’t like the person or think the person a weirdo or whatever, we tend to transfer these feelings onto the idea as well. Because we have discounted the person, we discount the idea.

It’s known as arguing against the person. That’s right, politicians and their hangers-on do a lot of this during election time. But why should you?

It is quite possible for a weirdo to have a pretty powerful idea now and then. So, please, for this one week listen to the idea and ignore the person.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
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