Change your information

My friend used this phrase with me, "change your information". I thought it profound.

How many times have we been SURE of something. Dead rock solid. Then found out one tiny detail that Changed Our Information.

Now understandably, if all the information is not there it is sometimes easy to think you have it all. But I think we need in all occasions to assume rather than we have all the necessary information that we are likely missing important information.

I think back to the speech I heard Rudy Giuliani give back in June. His speech was based around leadership. He said to be a good leader you needed to do a few things.

First: Read--Voraciously. The newspaper, books, magazines, Internet etc. etc.
Second: Process what you read. Examine, Intellectualize, understand.
Third: Take a stand and be able to defend it.
Fourth: Bring in someone that disagrees and has a differing viewpoint. Then debate it. You may change your mind (that's ok) or it will solidify further the points you believe in.

While he was talking about leadership, I think the ideas transfer here as well. We all need information and we need to make sure we aren't just getting it from our happy, feel good sources. Sometimes details we NEED to know, can only come from contrary sources.

We don't need to get mad about that information, we need to use it...productively.

And, IF we want someone to change their information about us. They need to be privy to that information.

Communication is key. Open-mindedness is good. Listening is grand. Understanding is golden. Patience is a virtue. Standing for something is a necessity.

Please remind me I wrote this from time to time...ok? :)