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In my never-ending search for the ultimate truth, I asked a group of
about 30 executives, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Nine said
the chicken. Five said the egg. The rest didn't answer. Except one who had
the courage to admit, I don't know.
The chicken-egg question doesn't have an answer. Does it? I don't think it
would matter if it did. But most executives, teachers, policeman,
consultants, journalists, politicians, and parents find it difficult to
admit ignorance.
Editors think they have to improve every article that crosses their desk.
Managers lose sleep at night thinking of ways to direct their subordinates.
And every member of every committee feels compelled to make a contribution
to the program whether the program needs it or not.
A simple "I don't know" is the first step toward the solution to any
problem. Because only when we admit that we don't have the solution can we
begin an honest-to-goodness search for the solution.
Too many creative efforts are sabotaged by managers sending their people on
search missions for a solution they secretly believe they already have. You
know this is the case when you present your solution and the manager frowns
and admits, "that's not exactly what I was looking for."
No one has all the answers. Most of us don't have most of the answers. Some
of us don't have any answers. A condition sometimes referred to as bliss.
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