{"id":4393,"date":"2023-10-03T05:48:50","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T09:48:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/use-your-brains-frank-sonnenberg-online\/"},"modified":"2023-10-03T05:48:50","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T09:48:50","slug":"use-your-brains-frank-sonnenberg-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/use-your-brains-frank-sonnenberg-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Use Your Brains – Frank Sonnenberg Online"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
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We live in an age of abundant information. You can search websites, read books and blogs, listen to podcasts, and examine research to become knowledgeable about almost every subject. But just because you get an answer doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s accurate. As Richard Dawkins, the British author, said, \u201cBy all means let\u2019s be open-minded<\/a>, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some folks treat everything they read as gospel and act on the information without questioning it. Then, if things don\u2019t turn out as planned, they have a built-in excuse. After all, they acted on advice from a friend, a recommendation from a website, or research published in a prominent journal. It never crossed their minds that the information they acted on was biased, the research was flawed, or the expert wasn\u2019t really an expert after all. They just assumed the information was objective, accurate, and truthful \u2014 and never gave it a second thought.<\/p>\n

Consider the advice of others but trust yourself in the end.<\/p>\n

Think Before You Act<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to be as informed as you can. As President Woodrow Wilson said, \u201cI not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.\u201d At the same time, have a healthy dose of skepticism before acting on that information. Don\u2019t be quick to assume others know better, buy into the latest fad, or be persuaded to do something that doesn\u2019t feel right. In other words, use your brains. There is an old saying, \u201cIf someone told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?\u201d Of course not. And yet we follow advice, hop on the bandwagon<\/a>, or believe information without questioning it every day.<\/p>\n

Before you take something as gospel, do your homework. What criteria do you use to evaluate information?<\/p>\n

Published material.<\/strong><\/span> It\u2019s important to analyze information for accuracy, honesty<\/a>, objectivity, timeliness, and thoroughness. Ask yourself: Do you continually tap the same resource? Is the source credible? Does it reinforce your existing beliefs or provide a fresh perspective? Is the message one-sided or comprehensive? Is the information opinion or fact? Is it current or outdated? You\u2019re careful about the food that you put into your body. Be equally prudent about how you feed your mind.<\/p>\n

Advice.<\/span> <\/strong>Before seeking advice, know exactly what you need and determine the most qualified person to ask.\u00a0Everyone has a unique perspective. Some people are subject- matter experts. Other individuals have an intimate knowledge of you and your personal preferences. While others may have experienced a similar situation firsthand. Second, before acting on any recommendation, know the rationale. If the reasoning isn\u2019t logical to you, that should be a warning sign. Last, just because it\u2019s right for someone, doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s right for you. Again, use your brains.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Influences.<\/strong><\/span> We are dramatically affected by the people around us. In fact, we tend to follow others rather than think for ourselves. Even though being part of a group provides comfort and security it doesn\u2019t guarantee that your group will always think intelligently; in fact, their reasoning may be deeply flawed \u2014 and you may be following them right off a cliff. Listen to your gut. If it doesn\u2019t feel right, don\u2019t let others convince you otherwise. One or many believers don\u2019t determine the truth or untruth.<\/p>\n

Recommendations.<\/strong><\/span> Some folks buy things if they receive a lot of five-star reviews. Unfortunately, you\u2019ll never know if those reviews are real or fake. Take the time to read the comments<\/em> to determine whether the review is objective, accurate, and truthful.<\/p>\n

Research.<\/strong><\/span> Some people view research as the unvarnished truth. Unfortunately, that\u2019s not always the case. Ask yourself, is the methodology rigorous? Is the sample biased? Did the author falsify or fabricate the data, omit key information, or distort the findings? Does the author or researcher have a personal bias or a conflict of interest? Does the sponsor have a second agenda or a vested interest in the outcome?<\/p>\n

Know When It\u2019s Time to Reverse Course<\/h3>\n

Warning\u2026. Even if you secure the best information, there\u2019s still a catch. It is critical for you to pause periodically \u2014 to evaluate whether you\u2019re achieving the results that you desire. If you accept the guidance in published materials, research, or advice and it doesn\u2019t pan out, reverse course. While that may seem obvious, some people barrel forward without giving it a second thought. As Yogi Berra, the Baseball Hall of Fame catcher, said, \u201cI never blame myself when I\u2019m not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn\u2019t my fault that I\u2019m not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?\u201d<\/p>\n

Check out Franks NEW book,\u00a0Leadership by Example: Be a role model who inspires greatness on others<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Are You Using Your Brains?<\/h3>\n

Please leave a\u00a0comment<\/a>\u00a0and tell us what you think or\u00a0share it with someone who can benefit from the information<\/b><\/p>\n

Additional Reading:
Protect Yourself from Bad Information<\/a>
Did You Know That Dogs Can Fly?<\/a>
The Best Advice You\u2019ll Ever Get<\/a>
13 Ways to Spot a Lie<\/a>
Truth Be Told: 13 Ways to Demonstrate Honesty<\/a>
How to Have a Fresh Perspective<\/a>
Why Do You Trust Some People and Mistrust Others?<\/a><\/p>\n

If you like this article, subscribe to our blog so that you don\u2019t miss a single post. Get future posts by RSS<\/a> feed, email<\/a> or Facebook<\/a>. It\u2019s FREE. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Profit<\/a>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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