There’s lots of wisdom in Morgan Housel’s latest blog post. He explores the problems of how we perceive the people around us, and how, more often than not, what you see is not what you get. And that causes us problems. He writes:
When you are keenly aware of your own struggles but blind to others’, it’s easy to assume you’re missing some skill or secret that others have. The more we describe successful people as having guru-like powers, the more everyone else looks at them and says, “I could never do that.” Which is unfortunate, because more people would be willing to try if they knew that those they admire are probably normal people who played the odds right.
When someone is viewed as more extraordinary than they are, you’re more likely to overvalue their opinion on things they have no special talent in. Like a successful hedge fund manager’s political views, or a politician’s investment advice. Only when you get to know someone well do you realize the best you can do in life is to become an expert at some things while remaining inept at others – and that’s if you’re good. There’s an important difference between someone whose specific talent should be celebrated vs. someone whose ideas should never be questioned. Eat the orange, throw away the peel.
We are all projecting versions of ourselves. Or, as Housel puts it earlier in his article, we’re all in sales!
Because of this, though we're quick to recognise our own flaws and imperfections, we rarely ever get to see the flaws and imperfections of those around us – only their curated better self.
As a result, we look down on ourselves, thinking we’re less able than we truly are.
We lower our value of ourself while raising it (based on incomplete information) for others.
In other words, if we’re not careful and intentional, we can go through life with a distorted perspective of what we’re able to bring to the world.
We need to learn how not to underestimate who we are and what we have to offer. Then, at the same time, we have to stop overestimating the competence and opinion of others.
Because of this, though we're quick to recognise our own flaws and imperfections, we rarely ever get to see the flaws and imperfections of those around us – only their curated better self.
As a result, we look down on ourselves, thinking we’re less able than we truly are.
We lower our value of ourself while raising it (based on incomplete information) for others.
In other words, if we’re not careful and intentional, we can go through life with a distorted perspective of what we’re able to bring to the world.
We need to learn how not to underestimate who we are and what we have to offer. Then, at the same time, we have to stop overestimating the competence and opinion of others.
–Sam
Got some thoughts on this? I’d love to hear from you – do hit reply or drop me a note.
@samradford | samradford.com
Got some thoughts on this? I’d love to hear from you – do hit reply or drop me a note.
@samradford | samradford.com