DW's Blog

Open to Everything

by DW Green — June 20, 2018

I’ve not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work. – Thomas Edison

“Have a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing.”

This seems like a principle to live life by. I’d like to think I have an open mind, or mostly an open mind! But then this statement isn’t about having an open mind, it’s about having a mind that is open to everything. I’m sure I’ve discounted or rejected things from either an unwitting bias or an unpleasant or unsuccessful comparable experience. A mind that is open to everything is a mind that is open to trying new and different things, and understanding a different point of view, a different way of doing, of being.

I think the second part of the statement “attached to nothing” is more difficult to achieve. Why? Because what we’re attached to, is often an attachment to our identity. If I do this or that, I might look dumb, or unsophisticated or foolish or some other negative quality. Those are possible outcomes. I know I’ve looked dumb, unsophisticated, foolish and have failed to understand a different point of view. And I’m sure it cost me business and professional standing. But letting go of my identity to try and explore new things is both rewarding and satisfying.

Do you recognize any of these comments: “We have always done it this way”, “We tried that once and it didn’t work”, “The big chains don’t do it that way”, “Our wholesaler thinks that would be a mistake”. These are examples of closing the mind to new ideas and opportunities.

I’ve not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.
– Thomas Edison

The outer limit of your potential is determined solely by your own beliefs and your own confidence in what you think is possible.
– Brian Tracy