This isn’t a post about collaboration as a team or building a consensus. It’s a post about ideas, missions and dreams… pursuing them and one of the barriers a lot of us face when starting something new.
There comes a time when you have an idea, an idea that you think is good… so good that you want to share with someone else in order to get their take. But is it really their opinion you want… or is it their approval (otherwise know as validation)?
Be honest, you want them to look back at you and say “Wow, that’s an amazing idea! You should definitely go for it!”
But what happens if they don’t respond that way? What do you do if they rain on your parade with their lackluster response or worse, they tell you that your idea is silly or won’t work?
Then what?
Do you believe them?
Do you give up before you even really began?
Do you let their perspective shape your direction?
Or do you take note, consider what they had to say, make adjustments if necessary and keep going in pursuit of the vision you’ve been given?
You see, the problem with asking someone else for their opinion is that it’s, well… their opinion. It’s not right or wrong, it’s just what they think on the matter. And while getting insight from others is indeed valuable and encouraged from those who are qualified to give it, the weight that we put on that insight is the issue.
Why?
Because someone else hasn’t been given the same vision that you have. They can’t see what you see and their path is likely quite different from yours.
So when they say your idea won’t work or if they don’t see it in the way you do, don’t get discouraged and don’t take it personally. If you truly believe in it and feel that it’s possible, pursue it regardless of the opinion of others.
Who knows, it very well could be that the idea you’re looking for approval on was something God inspired and if so, that’s all the validation you need.
Related posts:
Thu, Dec 16, 2010
Perspective