Fact checking is in my DNA. Of all the books, magazines, seminars and workshops I’ve produced and published in the past three decades, none have contained any gossip, rumor or hearsay.
Back in the day, my editorial team and I would gather the info, expel the gossip, analyze the data, poke the evidence, and explore all the possibilities. Then, we would debate the downside, dispute the upside, argue our point, and consider all possible POV’s. Then, I would make a decision.
That said, once you’ve done the homework and you’ve finally gathered all the facts in any situation, whether it’s a business opportunity or a personal challenge, it becomes much easier to make intelligent choices and wise decisions. When you’re faced with the facts, you may not like what you see, but you’re forced to work with them and discover ways to keep moving forward (whereas hearsay will send you down a endless rabbit hole).
And that’s what you and I and other pro artists & treps do every day. We are constantly challenged to concoct creative ways to use the facts we are presented with to keep us progressing forward, in our careers and personal lives.
Important because over the years I’ve learned that facts don’t always kill the deal, however they do always up the ante. That said, when you’re working with others, requesting factual information in any career decision or personal situation is imperative. If that doesn’t work, insisting may help.
While we’re on the subject, this is one of my favorite books: “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World” by Hans Rosling