-
8/9/2019 When You Shouldn't Listen to Experts
1/3
When You Shouldnt Listen toExperts: 5 Must Ask Questions
ByRobert Pagliarini Columnist for CBS MoneyWatch
Experts can be dangerous.
I'm the number one proponent ofusing the other 8 hours to learn
fromothers, grow, and advance, butwhenever you find yourself
seekinginformation, guidance, or answersfrom an authority figure
such as an
expert or doctor, watch out! You just might save your life.
Last week James Arthur Ray, a self-help motivational speaker,was
arrested on three counts of manslaughter. He had a strongand
passionate following, and for the three who died and the 18others
who were treated at hospitals, they followed him too far.James held
a week-long spiritual retreat in Arizona where themembers
participated in a 36-hour fast, sleep deprivation, and adeadly
sauna-like ceremony where 50+ participants enduredsweltering heat
for 2 hours.
As far as I know, participants were free to leave at any time.
Thedoors weren't locked and there were no burly guards blocking
theexit. So why didn't they? They followed an authority figure.
Theyhung up their judgment and ability to think for themselves at
thedoor. They looked to the leader -- the expert to whom some
paid$9,000 for the event -- to tell them what to do. Even after
feelingill, vomiting, and collapsing, participants chose to stay.
Of course,you would have run for the door . . . or would you?
Ever since the holocaust, psychologists have been intrigued by
ourobedience to authority figures. In one of the most
infamousexperiments, a completely demented and absolutely
brilliantStanley Milgram tested participants' willingness to obey
anauthority figure who told them to administer dangerous shocks
toanother subject. Shockingly, 65% of the participants
administeredthe highest voltage -- even after the subject
complained abouthaving a heart condition!
http://www.yourother8hours.com/http://www.yourother8hours.com/
-
8/9/2019 When You Shouldn't Listen to Experts
2/3
It's amazing what we'll do when a stern guy in a lab coat tells
usto, but what does this have to do with you? Everything.
Thoughtleaders and experts can inspire and provide solutions, but
if youfollow them blindly, you can do yourself harm. Similar to the
workI've done on the dangers of groupthink and social
networking, here are a few questions on how to get the mostfrom
experts without losing yourself in the process:
1. What's the downside? This should always be question #1.What's
the worst thing that could happen? Make sure you areclear on this
before you do anything.2. Does this make sense? You don't have to
be an expert tohave common sense. If you get advice or are asked to
dosomething, step back and ask yourself if it makes sense.3. Why
shouldn't I do this? All signs point to yes, but can youthink of
any reason why you shouldn't take the expert's advice? Ifyou are
experiencing cognitive dissonance, you may not want toquestion what
you're doing, but it's at this point where you needto the most.4.
What harm could come if I don't do this? Will the worldend? Will
you lose a limb? Sometimes we build things up in ourhead to where
we feel intense pressure to do something, but thisquestion is great
for deflating things and for putting the situationback into
perspective.5. What would happen if I waited? Really bad decisions
areoften made without much thought or reflection. Take a step
back.
Give yourself some time before you commit to anything.
In your quest to find answers and guidance, be careful not
toblindly follow experts and authority figures. Make sure you
askyourself these five questions before you act. Trust me, I'm
anexpert...
(Question Authority image byMira Hartford, CC 2.0)
http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/blog/other-8-hours/is-social-networking-bad-for-you/136http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/blog/other-8-hours/is-social-networking-bad-for-you/136http://www.flickr.com/photos/citizenhelder/2458111088/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.enhttp://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/blog/other-8-hours/is-social-networking-bad-for-you/136http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/blog/other-8-hours/is-social-networking-bad-for-you/136http://www.flickr.com/photos/citizenhelder/2458111088/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
-
8/9/2019 When You Shouldn't Listen to Experts
3/3
For a limited time, you can download
severalfree resources (assessment,
poster, audio interview, video, and
more) atwww.other8hours.comand learn more about my new book,The
Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your
Free Time to Create New Wealth &
Purpose.
Copyright 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights
Reserved.www.yourother8hours.com
http://www.other8hours.com/http://www.yourother8hours.com/http://www.twitter.com/rpagliarinihttp://www.other8hours.com/http://www.yourother8hours.com/
