The Wisdom of Solomon’s Paradox

A note to young leaders.

Listen carefully to the advice you give to others. Are you following your own counsel?

This is Solomon’s Paradox.

Solomon’s Paradox is named after King Solomon, who was famous for his sublime wisdom and also for his complete inability to live in accordance with it.

We humans, it turns out, are notoriously good at delivering sound, rational advice to others, but notoriously bad at dispensing that same advice to ourselves.

Have you ever found yourself shouting at a TV screen: “Oh for goodness sake, why don’t they just talk to each other?” or, “That’s ridiculous, why doesn’t she just leave that dead-end job?”

All the world’s a stage and we but actors upon it. Get off the stage once in a while, and sit in the audience. Listen to the advice you’re giving to all the characters.

You’re just another character on the stage. The advice you give to others is very often most pertinent to yourself. Listen to it. Follow it.