The Facts Are Not The Truth
Posted by myideas1 on July 17th, 2008
Effective leaders encourage their people to question everything. When we begin to question things, we elevate our thinking. When we elevate our thinking, we also expand our possibilities. And when we expand our possibilities, we will come to realize that the facts don’t count. The facts are only the truth as long as we believe them.
We cannot live our lives based solely on facts because facts are changing almost daily. Furthermore, the facts don’t motivate us anyway — the possibilities do! William Faulkner exclaimed, “Facts and truth really don’t have much to do with each other.
“The fact of the matter is, in 1949 when the Federation for the Blind was founded, 99 percent of the blind people in America were unemployed. So, the founders of this organization decided to encourage their members to view blindness as a personality trait rather than a disability.
In other words, the leaders of this organization encouraged their people to rethink what was possible for them. They changed the facts! Because of this paradigm shift, blind people today are succeeding in areas once believed impossible. They now work in almost every field imaginable…teachers, attorneys, mayors, artists, Olympic athletes, professors, entertainers, TV talk show hosts, professional speakers, etc., and the list goes on and on of professions which the blind now occupy.
Are you old enough to remember Allen Funt from Candid Camera? Well, he used to always say that most people don’t question things. They just accept things as they are and invariably go with the flow.
The Candid Camera crew was in Delaware filming a few segments for their television show. They put up a giant sign that read, “Delaware Closed Today.” Mr. Funt commented that what was so amazing about the entire episode was the fact that most of the motorists didn’t even question this outrageous stunt. Some of them just asked, “Well, uh…is Jersey open?”
…Excerpt from Grow Through It & Lead
July 18th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Interesting post. I have a saying “Reality is nothing. Perception is everything.”
That’s not always positive, but it surely was in the case of your example about blind people.
So many of us are held back from achieving our dreams by far less than blindness.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:42 am
That is so true. I love the Alan Funt story about Delaware being closed. It is true that we just sometimes kind of accept. Great points for me to be aware of!
July 19th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Linda…most definitely! Too often we allow other people to define who we are instead of developing our own “positive” definition for our lives. This is primarily due to the fact that many people don’t believe they have the power to do so. To really live, I think we must always believe that we can reinvent ourselves at any given time despite conditions and circumstances, and move in the direction of our dreams.
Heidi, yes…I think it’s quite sad that we’re more accepting when it comes to perceived limitations around us. It often reminds me of the movie, “The Truman Show.” Unfortunately, not too many people are able to go beyond the veil and grab life by the horns.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I can’t disagree with this post and yes, effective leaders can drive perception and change. Thanks for such a smart and inspiring article.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
It’s good to know that questioning everything is no longer a negative trait. I have always been highly inquisitive and most people don’t like that trait of mine.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
That sounds very much like my husband, to the point where if I have a problem, I know before hand to ask myself the questions he is sure to ask, it definitely makes me think through my idea before coming to him, but best is when he always gives me more questions to mull over in helping me make that decision.
July 20th, 2008 at 3:52 am
I have always thought that way. It’s like with clothes designers, the only thing they’re selling is their name because they’ve managed to convince people that their name on something makes it better and special, when in reality you probably couldn’t tell their merchandise apart from anyones without the tags.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:44 am
sHaE-sHaE…thankfully, it’s a new day. But as you know, not everyone has gotten on the bandwagon. Nevertheless, keep doing what you’re doing!
Ada…fortunate is the man or woman who has someone to kick around ideas with and explore the possibilities.
Kathleen…you’re right!
July 21st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Too funny! I do remember Mr. Funt, don’t remember that one though. You are right. When businesses encourage employees to think, big things happen. Shut everyone down with a “we don’t want to hear it” policy and you’re asking for trouble (and a poorly run business).
July 21st, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Hello Janet! It was funny and scary at the same time, wasn’t it? Diversity is the key to success. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of people who encouraged me to get here, both positively and negatively.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:28 am
I didn’t know that about the blind. I actually knew a blind woman for years without even knowing she was. Really remarkable.
I use to watch reruns of candid camera when I was little. It was pretty cool. “Smile! You’re on candid camera!”
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Absolutely true. These days we’re so jaded and run down by the routines of life, I barely question my own lunch decisions at times!