Geoff Steck’s

THANK GOODNESS IT’S MONDAY

TGIM #210

REFRIGERATOR MAGNET WISDOM

IN CONFLICT

“Don’t explain: Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.” At the press conference announcing her plans to depart the office of Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin cited that bit of proverbial wisdom, sourced, she said, from a refrigerator magnet in her parents’ home.

Commenting on that event and the sort of non-explanation explanation, Anchorage Daily News columnist Michael Carey observed, “The governor might have done better to take her cue from another piece of refrigerator wisdom, ‘Quitters never win, and winners never quit.’”

Opposites attract: It’s true with magnets. And it’s true with such refrigerator magnet wisdom; contradictory viewpoints abound and it’s tempting to match them up.

So, continuing the process begun by the Palin/Carey dialogue, why not extend the “Quitters never win, and winners never quit’” point of view with the observation “So how can you quit when you’re ahead?”

Politics aside — because that’s not what these TGIMs are about — the truth of most statements represented as “conventional” or “proverbial” wisdom is that it’s often possible to cite equally persuasive countervailing counsel.

Here are some more examples of contradictory opposites attracting … and some TGIM thoughts that might be useful in settling refrigerator magnet wisdom conflicts.

Let’s start with one that magnets suggest:

Opposites attract.

vs.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Got it? Then let’s continue:

Look before you leap.

vs.

He who hesitates is lost.

Better safe than sorry.

vs.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

vs.

Out of sight, out of mind.

You’re never too old to learn.

vs.

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Silence is golden.

vs.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

The best things come in small packages.

vs.

The bigger, the better.

Practice makes perfect.

vs.

Nobody’s perfect.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

vs.

Don’t beat a dead horse.

Are we having fun? How about some triple plays?

Two heads are better than one.

vs.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

vs.

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Sticks and stones may break by bones,

But names will never harm me.

vs.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

vs.

Actions speak louder than words.

TGIM Takeaway: Sometimes wisdom deemed “conventional” or “proverbial” is simply wrong. Ask an unbiased scientific researcher. No matter the area of specialization, he or she will confirm that there are always examples of new inquiries or new insights that overturn conventional wisdom.

Easy-to-grasp examples: The earth is the center of the universe. The world is flat.

Of course in the adage mashups we created, there’s an enduring truth to either of the stand-alone arguments. Most proverbial wisdom is not scientifically quantifiable but some part has been correct enough times in enough circumstances to convince us of the wisdom’s correctness. But when we contrast the points of view it is easier to conceive of times when the other view would prevail.

So seeing conventional wisdom in conflict is a useful reminder to not take things for granted. But how does this fit into our daily routine?

TGIM ACTION IDEA: When a refrigerator magnet adage pops up in your mind as the justification for an action you’re considering, remind yourself: We live in a world that can be unconventional a great deal of the time. The context is always changing. We can’t know everything about the circumstances. Data can be flawed and we don’t know it. Conventional wisdom can’t be taken at face value.

TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: Be open and prepared to test the truths you tend to live by.

A great starting point: Conventional wisdom says we should focus on our weaknesses in order to improve the most and be the most productive. A bit less conventional is the view of the so-called  strengths movement which believes the opposite: that the best way to be happy and productive is to discover the things you are best at, and do more of those.

Which would you choose? The truth is, you can — and probably should — choose both, simultaneously. Precisely how much effort you’ll put where is your call. Just don’t be held back by clichéd thinking and self-limiting beliefs.

Any conventional wisdom conflicts come to mind for you? Share ‘em by email to tgimguy@gmail.com or post a blog reply.

In the meanwhile: I’ll keep in mind a piece of, IMHO, indisputable proverbial wisdom from, well, Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com

P.S. When times and finances get tight (as they currently are) conventional wisdom says, “We can’t afford the training.” Ah, but as conventional wisdom also suggests: “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” Work hard on your job and you’ll make a living. Work hard on yourself and you’ll make a fortune. One proven-in-action path to self-improvement: The Best Year Ever Program. To learn more, click through HERE.

GEOFF STECK leads Alexander Publishing & Marketing, a company he formed in 1986. The core AP&M mission: To create and publish leadership, sales mastery, self-improvement and workplace skill-building resources and tools. The focus: Areas such as business communication, staff support, customer care and frontline management. Geoff also puts his corporate and entrepreneurial experience, independent perspective, and skills as a catalyst to work for other firms (ranging from multinational corporations to more modest operations), not-for-profits, and individuals who have conceived or developed programs or initiatives but are frustrated in getting them implemented.

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