“When you don’t know what you believe, everything becomes an argument. Everything is debatable. But when you stand for something, decisions are obvious.” – Jason Fried, Founder of 37signals
I think good debate is healthy. It helps to flesh out an idea and clarify thinking. I have some great people in my life that help me towards this end.
But then there’s the wasteful debate. The people who aren’t sure of what they believe do tend to argue more. I think it’s important to recognize when this is happening and avoid the wasteful conversations. There’s too much creating and innovating to do. Everyone’s input is not legitimate or equal.
Having conviction can stand out in a big way today. It’s part of strong brands. Conviction expresses leadership with clarity. Not many people or companies have it. I like it when I see it. It makes me want to know what’s behind the passion.
One way to get above the noise is to get really clear about what you believe. We have enough drones and pseudo-intellectuals out there. They don’t risk or add any value. I choose to ignore them. Better to put my energy into continually testing and reinforcing my convictions.
Who do you need to ignore?
