It has occurred to me on many occasions, that, whether in a public or personal situation, the number of times that I have personally have said to someone, "Why did you do that" or it has been said to me ;) and the adult (or the child inside each of us) responded "I don't know" (IDK) I recently heard an interview with Alan Jacobs the author of "How to Think" that made me stop, open my Amazon app and order the book he was talking about.  He spoke about the "five minute rule", and I insert that section of the book for your consideration.  In today's fast paced world of life and business, where the rule is, instant response required or expected, what if we were all to adopt the "5 minute rule"?

What amazing results would occur?  Ronald Regan the actor and former president used to begin almost every answer to a question with the words "well" and dragged it out to give himself the luxury of having a few seconds to formulate a thoughtful response!  What if we were to do the same, in business or personal life, would that not give us a greater opportunity to communicate? a chance to think?

From the book by Alan Jacobs "How to Think"

Jason Fried, the creator of the popular project management software Basecamp, tells a story about attending a conference and listening to a talk. He didn't agree with the speaker's point of view; as the talk went on he grew more and more agitated. When it was over, he rushed up to the speaker to express his disagreement. The speaker listened, and then said "Give it five minutes." Fried was taken aback, but then he realized the point, and the point's value. After the first few moments of the speaker's lecture, Fried had effectively stopped listening: he had heard something he didn't agree with and immediately entered Refutation Mode-and in Refutation Mode there is no listening. Moreover, when there is no listening, there is no thinking. To enter Refutation Mode is to say, in effect, that you have already done all the thinking you need to do, that no further information or reflection is required. Fried was so taken by the speaker's request, he adopted "Give it five minutes" as a personal watchword. It ought to be one for the rest of us too; but before it can become one, we should probably reflect on the ways that our informational habits-the means (mostly online means) by which we acquire and pass on and respond to information-strongly discourage us from taking that much time. No social media service I know of enforces a waiting period before responding. From the book "How to Think" by Alan Jacobs


Follow this link for information on the author and the book "How to Think"
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551280/how-to-think-by-alan-jacobs/9780451499608/ Posted by Team Support on
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