Know your circle
““The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool.” -- Richard Feynman”
That confidence can turn into arrogance pretty quickly.
We assume that skill in one field seamlessly applies to another, which can lead us to be totally wrong — without even knowing it.
In the past, I caught myself speaking on topics I didn’t really know, simply because I tried to bridge well-intended assumptions from a related subject.
But the further you step from true expertise, the closer you drift to areas of incompetence — which is a hard thing to gauge.
The only rule of thumb that’s helped me recalibrate is, “What new information would I need, to change my view on this?”
Because the more certain I become about a topic, the more ingrained my previous knowledge is.
Sometimes that’s helpful — it extends existing foundations.
But most of the time, I learn and grow a lot more when I admit I have no idea.
Because if you’re so self-assured about a particular topic — i.e., you know, that you know, that you know, you’re right — you shouldn’t have any problem welcoming an opposing view.
Worst case scenario, you get new information to refine your knowledge.
You’ll be opened up to different perspectives, have assumptions challenged, and find fresh ways to solve problems.
Chances are, your competition won’t do that.
So, know your circle of competence—and keep an eye on how far you drift into other territories.
— And, if you want to expand your circle of competence, head over to readar.ai to find the right book for you to read next.
Keep seeking,
Michael
PS Meme — when you drift into other territories …