Making assumptions is something many of us are guilty of. An assumption is “something taken for granted or accepted as true
without proof.” In other words, it is a belief without proof. There is this
joke that goes: “when you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME.” How true! Never
assume anything. As much as possible, always try to have proof for your ‘belief’ and reason(s) for your action.
Are you sure that the way you perceive or see things/people
is the way they really are? Many have missed out of life's opportunity simply
because of their assumption! Are you willing to challenge the norm in order to
succeed? Bad enough, your assumptions can influence your attitudes and behaviors in a big way and so ultimately
influence your future. It is always necessary in any given circumstance to ask
the question “why?” before doing or not doing anything. Why can’t you be
wealthy? Why can’t you be great? Why can’t you be the person that brings about
great change? If you truly analyse these questions and try to answer them you
will find that most of your answers will be only assumptions or, at the very
least, excuses.
I love a story told by one of the
most highly acclaimed creativity experts in the world and the author of the
best seller; Thinkertoys; Michael Michalko. He gave a
remarkable example of behavior that is based on assumptions. He asks the
reader to imagine a cage containing five monkeys. A banana is then hung on a
string inside the cage and a set of stairs placed in the cage leading up to the
banana. Whenever a monkey goes up the stairs and grabs the banana, ice-cold
water is poured on all the monkeys in the cage. Very soon, as the monkeys begin
to associate touching the banana with being sprayed with ice-cold water they
will try to prevent one another from trying to get the banana.
The cold water is then turned off and one monkey removed from
the cage and replaced with another that doesn’t know anything about the cold
water. This new monkey will inevitably try to get the banana, but the other
four monkeys will attack him to stop him from doing so.
If another of the old monkeys is removed and replaced with a
newcomer, this newcomer will try to grab the banana. The previous newcomer will
gladly take part in beating him up together with the other monkeys in order to
prevent him from climbing the stairs to the banana(even without know their
reason).
One after the other, all the original monkey can be replaced
with new monkeys in this manner. The cage will now be totally filled with
monkeys that know nothing about the ice-cold water, but they will all not try
to get the banana and continue to attack any monkey that tries to do so. No
monkey should ever again approach the stairs. Why Not? Because as far as they
know, that’s the way it’s always been around here. Don’t be a monkey. Challenge
all assumptions.
Often, our actions, behaviors and assumptions continue long
after the reasons for them have passed. That is why picking up things and doing
them because others have always done and continue to do them that way is never
a good idea. Any person who desire to be a great success and a leader
both to themselves and to others must not take anything for granted. He must
not simply assume that the way he sees things is the way they really are or the
way they should be. Never assume anything – free yourself.
Free yourself from the web of social pressures in which the
rest of the world are caught. Question the assumptions that even the majority
accept especially if they don’t have any rational reason for them. Avoid the
monkey mentality. Never assume that an individual is the way someone has
described them. Get close to them and find out who they really are. Don’t
assume. Be kind. Tell the truth and never say anything you are not able to
fully stand by. Stop your many assumptions. According to Aaron Levie ‘start
with the assumption that the best way to do something is not the best way they
are being done right now”. Have a Great day.
