This week I was strongly reminded of something I am passionate about - learning, experiencing, growing, embracing opportunities, and having an open-mind. I know that is several "somethings", but to me it is all related.
I was given the unique opportunity to attend a motivational business seminar with many high profile speakers for free and an excused absence from work. My first reaction was heck yes sign me up! There was no hesitation, knowing I had no deadlines that would prevent me from being able to miss that day of work. However, I heard some skepticism and doubt around the office. Co-workers spoke of how it is only a sales pitch, or they didn't agree with some of the speakers, or it would just be an over-crowded feel good seminar that didn't help, or you would only be brainwashed by what the speakers had to say.
What?!?
My first argument here is that I believe YOU have complete control over whether you will be brainwashed or not. Go in with an OPEN mind but also some healthy sense of skepticism to ask questions and not blindly accept what others say. YOU also have control over whether you spend your money. They may try to sell you the moon, that doesn't mean you don't have to buy it. Know that they will try to sell things and control that for yourself. Say no, move on. The entire seminar is not strictly selling.
Secondly, high profile speakers, no matter what their political affiliation, race, age, sex, religion, or whatever else you want to label them with, are intriguing people. They have had experiences that you and I have not. Whether you agree with them or not, like them or not, they have something to offer. Actually, I believe everyone has something to offer each of us. That's the beauty of people, we are all different in our experiences and our perspectives. Listening to such prominent people speak about what they know and what they have experienced is a blessing. They are where they are for some reason, whether you agree with that or not. You never know what could resonate with you.
Thirdly, it is a FREE, EXCUSED absence from work. Need I say more? Grab the opportunity!
It is a chance to grow, to learn something new, to expand your mind. You don't have to change your mind, but by expanding it to new ideas, thoughts and experiences you can only grow. I cannot say this will or will not benefit me until I go and see for myself. I do not blindly accept someone saying this is life-changing, but I will not blindly accept someone telling me it is not worth my time. I will decide that myself. Even if I end up thinking it is negative, it is one more experience I can cross off my list.
That is my belief. It continues to be a strong belief.
I like your third pt. Who'd argue with that?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if people have the ability to decide whether they will be brainwashed or not. I think that's a confidence thing. The people that are easily brainwashed are the ones that do not have enough self-confidence to have a moral standing they believe in and stick to. On the opposite end are the arrogant ones that believe their opinions are the right ones and are unwilling to hear/consider alternative views. So, one who is open-minded and respects alternative views would be in the middle.
One of the great things about our country is that we are all allowed to have our own opinions and express our ideas (even if there's no basis for them). I find it interesting regardless of my political views to listen to programming from both sides of the aisle. It allows me to have an informed opinion of what each side's argument is. While I may not agree with it, or in some cases I despise it, I would like to think people for the most part support their views from what they believe to be an informed (educated) opinion. I fear that is not the case most often. I think everyone is entitled to their opinions but to have an opinion and not have anything to base it on and to not be open-minded is hypocritical, educate yourself and then come talk to me. Some of these types of people I talk to are like talking to my almost 3-yr-old; the only response I get to a question is, "because!" In many cases I'm the one that's not educated enough to have an opinion. Great! Educate me so that I can! I'll form my opinion from what you provide me and hopefully if you're not compelling enough I'll go do some more digging.