Making Assumptions

The Pope was visiting America the other day and when he arrived a huge stretch limo was waiting to pick him up. As the driver let’s call him Gareth opened the door the Pope requested that he drove. Of course Gareth declined and said “I can’t let you drive what if something was to happen to you?” The Pope then went on to plead to Gareth the driver, saying that they never let him drive at the Vatican and he missed it terribly. Eventually after going back and forth for some time Gareth gave in and said the Pope could drive, so he got in the back and the Pope got behind the wheel. As they pulled off Gareth immediately regretted his decision as the Pope reached 180km’s an hour on the motor way. A speed cop saw the limo speeding past and requested they pull over.

When the limo had pulled over the officer walked up to the window to find the Pope in the driver’s seat. The officer immediately turned around and got on the radio with his Section Chief. Chief he said I have just pulled over a limo for doing a 180km’s per hour but I don’t know what to do. Book them replied the chief, no you don’t understand said the officer it’s someone really important. Who the Mayor? Replied the chief; no bigger than the mayor said the officer. The Governor guessed the chief again, no much bigger than that. Well who then? Said the chief. I think its God said the officer, God said the Chief don’t be silly. Seriously Sir I think its God, I think so because he has the Pope as his driver.

What assumptions have you made lately?

People often say to assume makes an ass out of you and me; “ass – u – me” which I always thought was an annoying statement because quite frankly in life we have to make assumptions at times. For instance right now we are going through a recession, we have to assume things will get better and go back to being normal again. We have to assume this because there is no evidence to suggest that it will go either way but being positive will ensure that we remain sane and instead of panicking we continue with our lives which in turn drives the economy and things stabilize, well that’s what we hope anyway.

But is it wise to assume something? Would it not be better if we were prepared? People often do things on a whim or an assumption (the big picture) without any planning necessary. In such a case you have a 20/80 chance things will work out the way you planned because you have not taking into account external factors. The officer in the story jumped to a conclusion, obviously he was wrong in his assumption, which begs the question, how difficult would it have been to simply ask who the passenger was?

By simply asking questions we can take the guess work out of the equation. This is something I’ve noticed throughout my life in various circumstances. Relationships are a prime example. How often do we tip toe around and plot in a relationship trying guess what our partner or potential partner is feeling or thinking, why can’t we just ask? If he or she does not feel the same you saved yourself a whole heap of time and trouble.

In business we elevate all the guess work by putting together adequate well thought out business plans, top professionals will tell you it took them years before they put their plans into action, especially if there is finance that is required.

Another very popular saying is;” you ask no questions you hear no lies.” My philosophy is you ask no questions you hear no truths, I remember in high school when teachers would ask if anyone had any questions and no one would put up their hands, then after the teacher was finished they would ask their friends to explain what had been said only to have their friends tell them they didn’t know either because they were too embarrassed to put their hand up as well.

I’ll end with this. A person who asks a question is a fool for thirty seconds and person who does not ask a question is a fool for the rest of their life.

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