Assertion-based reasoning

A friend of mine had a great exercise.  He would say:

“Write up the set of core assertions about your business.  Then imagine a challenge to those assertions by your constituency base. 

Imagine them asking you to articulate the ‘WHY’ side of your value proposition.  Then imagine them responding to your answer with a collective 'SO WHAT,' either formally or informally through inaction. 

Ask yourself, what then, what would your next move be?"

In Buddhism, you have the concept of things being “workable.” Paths can be discovered, situations can be stitched together and routines can be iterated and then forged over time. 

I would assert that if you can commit to answering the ‘WHO’ in this type of model and doing so with clear specificity, then you can develop a well-grounded, workable path to becoming the ‘WHAT’ that you want to be.

Comments

[John]

It depends.

If you're too busy planning a career, then you won't have one. It's about doing. People respect experience and accomplishments. Everything else is hot air.

Assertion-based reasoning... how about assertion-based doing. Hey, I DID THAT. I. DID. THIS. That other guy didn't. "What one man can dream another man can build"; and it's the person who can claim they built it that gets the credit.