The Disillusion of Business

Let’s start out with a very simple question: By observing the image below, which line is longer?

Most of you recognize this as the Müller-Lyer illusion and know through education that both lines are the same length. However, you would be wrong. If you notice in the image below, you will see that I changed the length of one of the lines.

I would venture to guess that the majority of you didn’t notice the change and proceeded to answer the question they way you were indoctrinated. You did not stop to think that a change could, or would, or should be made. You saw what you thought was the Müller-Lyer illustration and answered accordingly. However, if you would have stopped and preformed a quick calculation, you would have noticed the change in line length. This leads me to my second, and more important, question: Are you making the same uncalculated decisions in your business?

Business, technology, and education are all constantly changing. It is important for you to realize these changes and adapt to them in order to maintain relevance in today’s market. By going on what you have always believed to be correct, you will inevitably be incorrect. Although from a fictional movie, a line from Men In Black can easily sum this up: “1500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you knew that people were alone on this planet. Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow.” The business world will change the rules on you every time—and at any time. Learn to recognize these changes and adjust your business accordingly. Retrain your mind into performing quick calculations on items it already believes to be evident. Because if you don’t, you could go from reading a blog about measuring lines to standing in the unemployment line.

Michael D. Alligood
Partner Sales & Support, ExchangeDefender & Shockey Monkey
michael@ownwebnow.com
(877) 546-0316 x707