When conventional wisdom isn’t wise.
Conventional Wisdom says you probably shouldn’t eat a lot of food. It’s not healthy. Conventional Wisdom says you probably shouldn’t drive too fast because it’s dangerous.
Conventional Wisdom says you probably shouldn’t take certain risks.
Or is it?
Well, some people thrive when they go against conventional wisdom. Some try to apply general rules to everything in life and that just doesn’t work. World class athletes need to consume a lot of calories each day, so conventional wisdom doesn’t apply. Racecar drivers drive fast because it’s their job. And yet it’s dangerous to do so. But they are the very best drivers in the world and do it well because they have a specific place for it. And many of us are guilty of speeding too. We go against conventional wisdom regularly.
So what risk, that Conventional Wisdom says you shouldn’t take, could you bend or break? Is your idea not good enough? (It’ll never work.) That’s conventional wisom talking.
On second thought… maybe Wisdom isn’t so Conventional. Maybe it’s not even wisdom. Maybe it’s reaching for something that others can’t comprehend and going for it. What is that one thing that you’d love to try but Conventional Wisdom says that you shouldn’t? Maybe you should.
Reiter Thinks 
I was discussing this with a colleague the other day. We were looking back at opportunities we had passed by and concluded that we hadn’t taken the risk. The question I’d like to pose is whether conventional wisdom comes from nature or nurture? Why do some people go ahead and jump whilst others analyse first then decide?
Martin,
Welcome to the blog.
I try and understand where people are coming from. Most people are not comfortable with risk of any kind. Going against CW is hard to understand.
Case in point, my wife and I have decided to have a home birth for our fourth child. Many people in the US consider that kind of crazy. But upon further review, the US is the virtually the only country in the world that have births in a hospital (for low risk mothers). The rest of the world, gives birth at home with a midwife.
Were going against CW because we just don’t think it’s very wise after we’ve studied the matter for years.
At work I analyze but I also trust my gut. Sometimes I just KNOW something is going to work.
Ready, fire, aim. And maybe try again.
Matt
Follow up; our homebirth was the most amazing experience! Our homebirth baby recently turned one.