Getting the Counsel of Others

As we have discussed in previous blogs, a person's behavior is conditioned through life experiences. Because of this, our ways usually seem right to us. In fact, our desire to do or be something will often block our ability to see or understand pitfalls that may await us. What may seem normal behavior to us, may actually be extreme behavior to others!

Many investors were ruined financially by Bernie Madoff's Ponzei Scheme. While it is likely most of these investors did some background investigation of Madoff's organization before investing, the opportunity to earn large returns may have affected their decision-making. For example, rather than questioning how this organization could pay high rates of return when others could not, potential investors may have acted on persuasive comments made by their friends or other investors.

It would take both my hands and feet to count the many times I have made investments, or pursued a business or personal venture, simply because I wanted to do the thing. Often ignoring wise counsel, I plunged wholeheartedly into something that was out of its time or not for me to do. I can't count one instance of success when I have done this.

Here is a life principal that works. Proverbs, chapter 1, verse 5 states: "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel." Listening, learning and understanding are the basic principles for success in business, work and life!