The Hagakure #75: Why Don't You Agree With Me?

"Why don't you agree with me?"

That's often our internal monologue whether we realize it or not.

In his latest book, Same As Ever, Morgan Housel writes:

The question “Why don’t you agree with me?” can have infinite answers. Sometimes one side is selfish, or stupid, or blind, or uninfomed.

But usually a better question is, “What have you experienced that I haven’t that makes you believe what you do? And would I think about the world like you do if I experienced what you have?”

Let me tell you a quick story.

I once worked closely with someone who really rubbed me the wrong way. I felt this person was a control freak, a micromanager. Obsessed with detail.

One day we kicked off an offsite with everyone sharing their purpose through deeply personal stories. Almost everyone wept. That's how raw it was.

And listening to that person's life story of having been screwed over multiple times by acquaintances and even close family members made me realize... no wonder they couldn't trust anyone.

I probably wouldn't either.

So, would you think about the world like you do if you experienced what the other person has? What have the people you lead experienced in their lives that makes them think the way they do?

Do you know?

Do you care to know?