I contradict myself a lot.
For instance, two years ago, I was suggesting Blogging as a great tool for small businesses to interact with their clients. Now, I would suggest that it doesn’t reap enough reward for the amount of effort it involves. I had a tried and tested ‘marketing model’ that needs to be put on the shelf because the recession is dictating a speedier sales lead time.
I change my mind when it is necessary. Whether that’s when I learn a new viewpoint or when the external circumstances dictate that I need more flexibility.
It’s a bit like when a news interviewer questions a politician about a sound-byte they said [maybe] ten years ago. “But, Mr X, that’s not what you said in the 2000 election, quite the opposite in fact.”
This kind of contradiction is often cited as being a weakness, showing “lack of commitment” or the like.
But, it’s inevitable that as you see more points of view in your life through experience, your view point changes – usually expanding – as you understand more about the other sides of a story or realising a ‘fact’ you knew isn’t 100%.
We see this contradiction in all walks of life, whether it’s the type of mortgage that you “really should get right now” or the latest fashions of “what to wear” or, one close to my heart, the “rules” of marketing. Things change… change is the only constant.
That said, it seems that human beings aren’t big fans of change, many preferring a reversion back to the “way it was”, which is of course impossible. Just look at the outcry this week down to the changing interface of Facebook.
Circle Of Understanding
As we walk through life in our little circles of understanding we collide with other people’s knowledge and influence and we are (of course) affected by the interaction. How we use the change, and the strength we give ourselves to accept that our viewpoint can change in the first place, the more rounded our appreciation of life in general can improve.
A friend, Daryll Scott, when faced with a question about his subject will answer “My current understanding/belief is…”
Me, I love nothing more than sitting in a meeting and professing that “I don’t know” or saying “now, if you’d asked me the same question last month…”
Craig,
When it comes to IT you’re in great company.
Wasn’t it William Gates III who said that 640K was enough for anyone, and that the internet was just a fad.
I guess when you’re that successful you can afford to put so much cream on your humble pie that people think you’re eating Baked Alaska – and in his case, it’s actually THE Alaska:p
Glenn
You only have to compare Microsoft to the recent growth and innovation of Apple and Google to realise that perhaps they are stuck in the seventies.
The world of online marketing is 90% R&D these days. Makes my job mch more interesting and by the time that becomes a client project – much more effective.