The Power of Independent Thinking

A note to young leaders.

Take pride in being an independent thinker.

Once in 1997, the late great John Caldon handed me an Information Memorandum and said: “I think this is a really interesting proposal, Adam, let me know what you think.”

The following day, John pointed at the IM on my desk and asked hopefully: “Oh, Adam, what did you think of this?”

“Sorry to say John”, I replied, “I thought it was very ordinary. Perhaps I’m missing something but the assumptions in the business model lacked credibility.”

John just chuckled with that characteristic twinkle in his eyes and walked away.

Only then did it dawn on me that John was testing to see whether my respect and admiration for him as my boss and mentor had caused me to fall under his sway.

Have the confidence to hold your own opinions and have the courage to express them.

Never sell your opinion for money, power or popularity. Better to be true to yourself and a pariah than to be a puppet or a parrot.