A big alligator rubs its snout against a man's cheek.
"Oh, my god, he loves you so much!," the onlookers coo.
"No, he does not," says wildlife biologist Christopher Gillette, "This is not a Disney movie. I love him, he doesn't love me. He would kill and eat me if I were to let him."
"Yea, but right now he is not attacking you. This means he loves you," the tender-hearted insist.
To illustrate, Chris snaps his fingers near the alligator's mouth, deftly pulling away his hand in an instant. "I know how to orient my body in a position so that I didn't get bits. The secret trick is having skills."
It's not what it seems. But only an expert can understand the difference.
We perceive the world through the lens of personal experience and culture. We try to fit new experiences into the molds we already have.
Even if the molds don't fit the specific phenomenon, we won't easily let go of them. After all, we don't have others. And to be left alone, face-to-face with novelty, is a symbolic death.
But clinging to inadequate forms is also dangerous. We're like a child reaching for a bear cub, asking, "Can I pet this dog?" Reality harshly punishes ignorance, naivety, and carelessness.
But what if we regularly encounter novelty anyway?
Firstly, don't lie to yourself, i.e., separate the imaginary from reality.
Secondly, be aware of where your competence reaches its limits.
Thirdly, quickly learn a new phenomenon.
Ideally, with the help of an expert who has been there, done that.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
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