René Descartes founded 'Western Philosophy' with profound thoughts, the most famous one being - "I think therefore I am." 

If I think then I must exist [as a conscious being], and vice-versa.

When I think, the result is 'influence': influence on myself and influence on others. Each and every one of my thoughts influences my [following] thoughts and actions. With ongoing improvements in neuroscience [in the area of neuroplasticity], I now know my thoughts alter my neurons and neuronal paths - impacting on my future thoughts. And, I know my thoughts lead to my conscious actions including the actions I plan in an effort to get to desired outcomes and achieve my goals.

Also, I know I influence others in two ways:

• my unconscious behaviour - my body language and my 'automatic behaviour' and
• my conscious thoughts and the actions tied to those thoughts.

Considering all this...

I have choices: I can choose to work at improving my thinking so I improve the way I influence others and bring about changes for the better or I can leave my thinking processes as is and live with the outcomes that follow.

That's the choice I face every day.

That's the choice you face every day.

During a typical workday, you meet people who are not directly involved with your business as employees or clients or suppliers. They could be people you meet through acquaintances. They could be people you meet through your Chamber of Commerce or another association. Or they could be people you meet through volunteer activities in your community.  

You may meet with these people occasionally or you may meet with them regularly.

Over the course of years, you may have talked about your business with these people many, many times. You may believe they have a very good understanding of what you do when you go to work…that they understand the value you create when you are at work. 

Because it is important to you, you probably go out of your way to help some of these people understand what you do when you're at work.

If you do that, you may be very surprised to find out later just how little most of these people know about what you do while you're at work. 

I have had a number of discussions with friends on this topic, recently. Many people are telling me they are surprised to find that even close acquaintances do not understand what they do at work. In some cases they have had numerous meetings with people and provided numerous explanations of what they do and how they go about doing their work. Regardless, they find out later that other people do not understand what they do at work. 

When they find out this is the situation, many people are extremely disappointed, their feelings have been hurt. Their ego has been let down. As a result, they share their concerns and wonder what's going on.  Some people have asked me, Why does this happen? 

It seems to me, there are some fundamental reasons why this happens. Here are two examples: 

• Many people think they are too busy so they act accordingly. The rush through things. The fact is - they simply don't listen. 
• Perhaps, people think others who explain what they do at work are too aggressive, too pushy and too self-centered. So they turn off in the presence of those people. Again, they simply don't listen.

Simon Sinek wrote, “The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.” 

I wonder – What do people think and feel when they read ‘inspirational tidbits’ like this? 

Do they think – “That’s so wise. Aiming for perfection is a recipe for disaster. Doing a bit better today is an admirable way to spend the day.”

Do they feel – “Wow. What a relief, no more worries about perfection or big hairy audacious goals. Now, I am comfortable facing today.”

***

On the ‘pro’ side of thinking…

Small goals are the right way to pave the road to ultimate success. Big hairy audacious goals worked for Jim Collins, however, BHAGs do not work for most people and - as Fannie Mae illustrated - they can be more about hogwash than hedgehogs. 

On the ‘con’ side of thinking…

Why not aim to be perfect in the end? Full mastery of the things you view to be meaningful and lie within your control…isn’t that an admirable life goal? And, isn’t achievement of an admirable life-goal a worthy way to invest your energy and spend your time? That said, most people are very comfortable – at least, they appear to be very comfortable – living lives that fall far short of ‘perfect in the end’. 

Questions & food for thought,,,

• When you stop to think about it, does it matter how other people live their lives? 
• Do you care if a person aims to be perfect in the end? 
• Would you be inspired to know a person is aiming to be perfect in the end? 
• Would you be put off to know a person is aiming to be perfect in the end?