It was Henry Winkler that said that “assumptions are the termites of relationships”. Now connect it to success, one can as well dub assumption as the ‘termites of success’. Like a termite assumption ravages the fabric of success. It eats up and destroys the gains of success. Therefore, the assumption as far as success is concerned is an unwanted guest. Assumption and success dine at totally different tables. They are poles apart.
What then is Assumption?
Assumption means something that you think is true although you have no proof. In the realm of success, the assumption is alien as every feat of success is based on facts and figures. And making assumptions can be detrimental to success.
Making assumptions simply means believing things are a certain way without little or no evidence that shows you are correct, and you can see at once how this can lead to terrible trouble – Lemony Snicket.
Truly, assumption causes terrible troubles to success. It has a negative impact and dire consequences on success, namely;
It is costly
Assumption is very costly. It can cost you your chance at success. I know of big-time companies that have gone off the radar of success just because of assumption. These companies at a certain period were controlling a large chunk of the market share in the industry, and then came this assumption that they are the best and so unrivaled by any. This will affect their services somehow and their customers have to look elsewhere for alternatives because there is no longer any guarantee of satisfaction from using such services. Hence, they suffered a loss of this massive market share to their competitors.
The worst thing that can happen to any individual or company is to think or assume they are unbeatable. Rather your preoccupation should be to work hard to be the best and to surpass your previous feat of success. You must know that just like you your competitors are also working hard to surpass you and be the best.
Assumption is dangerous
In terms of its consequences, an assumption could be very dangerous and deadly. I remember vividly a dangerous incident that took place, over two decades ago, because of an assumption. We went to the farm, and after the day’s job, it was time to clean up. There was this river in the neighboring community close to the farm. So we decided to go there and take our bath. Just as we approach the muddy water we could see children between the age brackets of 7 to 14 years swimming skillfully on top of the water as though it was shallow. My cousin saw those children plunged into the river and assumed he could swim in it.
Making such a fatal error nearly cost him his life, and the next moment he was a drowning man gulping some mouthful of the muddy water. It took the combined efforts of divers around to bring him out, and to press some quantity of water out of his swollen belly.
Assumption leads to prejudice
To assume that a bigger pipeline is a better pipeline is a dangerous assumption – Jason Jordan
One of the ills of assumption is that it makes people leap before they look instead of looking before they leap. A young man was doing very well in business before he had the opportunity to travel to Asia. He made an assumption that since his friend who has traveled and comes back was successful, he too will. Then, he hurriedly sold everything he had just to fund the travel. He later traveled to Asia but it was a journey into frustration. And after twelve wasteful years of futility and frustration, he came back like the prodigal son full of regrets to start from scratch. All these pains came because of assumptions.
Are you assuming that if you change your line of business like your friend you will be more successful? Or do you assume that if you get that bigger job offer you will succeed in your career? Think twice. Assumptions could be misleading as they can lead to face-value judgment or prejudice. Prejudice can also refer to unfounded or pigeonholed beliefs and it may include “any unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence”. The assumption that the bigger pipeline is always the best is a very wrong one. The bigger pipeline may be loaded with the explosives of frustration that can truncate your quest for success.
It stifles capacity
Success is a function of our productive capacity. Capacity in this regard is the ability to produce. And productivity enhances success. One of the problems of assumption is that it impinges on the capacity to produce and can degenerate into a grasshopper or defeatist mentality -a situation where you easily accept failure and defeat without putting up a fight.
Understand that failure is part of the process of success. So don’t assume you are a failure because you have failed severally. Assumption would have cost Thomas Edison the opportunity of becoming a successful inventor had he assumed himself a failure. After about a thousand failed experiments yet he did not assume himself a failure or a write-off.
Now let me ask you, have you failed up to a hundred times? Let me guess, No! Then don’t give up on that wonderful project, don’t throw in the towel instead work harder. Your next move could be the limit breaker. Hence, you must be analytical in your thinking. Think like this;
What went wrong?
How do I solve this problem?
What method do I apply?
What will be the result?
Will it be positive or otherwise?
How to deal with Assumption
Always ask questions; don’t make assumptions – Angela Ahrendts.
Curiosity is the weapon to deal with assumptions. Therefore be curious, be inquisitive. Learn to question the assumptions you make about a particular phenomenon. By asking questions you are challenging the very basis of such an assumption.
You must stick to your convictions, but be ready to abandon your assumptions – Dennis Waitley.
Curiosity dispels assumptions as it allows access to the fundamental knowledge of life. You must deal with every form of assumption because it is dangerous. It does more harm than good to success.