biophase
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You always need to question where your information comes from. This is something that you should always do when in a conversation, discussion or argument. By asking this question, you will learn if the information that you are getting can be trusted.
Here's what I mean. I was having this conversation with someone about a year ago and this person said, "how are your rentals doing in Chicago, I heard that rents are going down there."
Before I even answered his question about my rentals, I asked "Where did you hear that from?"
"Well, I was at a dinner and they were talking about it"
"Who is they?"
"Mikey's dad"
"Does his dad have any rental property in Chicago?"
"I don't know"
"So how does he know that rents are going down in Chicago?"
So this person just believed information that he heard at a dinner and passed it along to me. The reason I immediately questioned it was NOT because I didn't believe him. It was because I wanted more information. My rents have been going UP in Chicago. But that doesn't mean it's true for everywhere in the city. Rents could be going down in the west side, I don't have a property there.
This happens all the time and once you recognize it, it will make it hard to participate in certain conversations. You could be the party pooper in them. So maybe it's not proper to question sources of small talk during a dinner conversation.
But when you get into another setting, say you are talking to your mortgage broker, and they say something like "they said that rates might go up next week so you should lock it in today" You can definitely question them and say, "who is they?"
Don't take information at face value. Question it.
On the flipside, you don't want to be that guy either. I've caught myself talking about of my butt without facts to back it up. In fact, the following experience has stuck with me so much that I am always aware of it when I do and don't speak.
About 5 years ago a running back of the AZ Cardinals moved down the street from me. I would see him all the time when walking my dog. One day, I'm walking by and the Cards had just lost the game a few days ago. I said, "tough game Sunday." He said, yeah I don't know what's wrong with our offense.
Now normally, a standard dude response would be, "Yeah, {insert starting QB} sucks they should put in the {insert 2nd string QB}, they should run more on 1st down, or who calls a screen on 3rd and 10?"
I remember hesitating and thinking, this guy is on the team, who am I to tell him that they need to run more, or whatever. What if he asked me "why should we run more?" Would I have an answer to that question?
So I said, "I hope you turn it around next week." and he said, "I hope so too."
Here's what I mean. I was having this conversation with someone about a year ago and this person said, "how are your rentals doing in Chicago, I heard that rents are going down there."
Before I even answered his question about my rentals, I asked "Where did you hear that from?"
"Well, I was at a dinner and they were talking about it"
"Who is they?"
"Mikey's dad"
"Does his dad have any rental property in Chicago?"
"I don't know"
"So how does he know that rents are going down in Chicago?"
So this person just believed information that he heard at a dinner and passed it along to me. The reason I immediately questioned it was NOT because I didn't believe him. It was because I wanted more information. My rents have been going UP in Chicago. But that doesn't mean it's true for everywhere in the city. Rents could be going down in the west side, I don't have a property there.
This happens all the time and once you recognize it, it will make it hard to participate in certain conversations. You could be the party pooper in them. So maybe it's not proper to question sources of small talk during a dinner conversation.
But when you get into another setting, say you are talking to your mortgage broker, and they say something like "they said that rates might go up next week so you should lock it in today" You can definitely question them and say, "who is they?"
Don't take information at face value. Question it.
On the flipside, you don't want to be that guy either. I've caught myself talking about of my butt without facts to back it up. In fact, the following experience has stuck with me so much that I am always aware of it when I do and don't speak.
About 5 years ago a running back of the AZ Cardinals moved down the street from me. I would see him all the time when walking my dog. One day, I'm walking by and the Cards had just lost the game a few days ago. I said, "tough game Sunday." He said, yeah I don't know what's wrong with our offense.
Now normally, a standard dude response would be, "Yeah, {insert starting QB} sucks they should put in the {insert 2nd string QB}, they should run more on 1st down, or who calls a screen on 3rd and 10?"
I remember hesitating and thinking, this guy is on the team, who am I to tell him that they need to run more, or whatever. What if he asked me "why should we run more?" Would I have an answer to that question?
So I said, "I hope you turn it around next week." and he said, "I hope so too."
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