In the newsroom, if a reporter falls in love with their first theory of a story, they become dangerous. They start ignoring facts that don’t fit the narrative. They stop being journalists and start being cheerleaders for their own bias.
We’ve been conditioned to think that changing our minds is a sign of weakness or “flip-flopping.” In reality, the ability to update your opinion in the face of new data is the highest form of intelligence. It is the “software update” for your brain.
1. The “First Draft” Fallacy
In writing, the first draft is almost always wrong. It’s just a way of getting the bad ideas out of the system. Why do we treat our beliefs differently? Most of our core assumptions about our careers, our relationships, and our industries were “first drafts” written when we were 22.
The Editorial Insight: If you haven’t “killed a darling” (a long-held belief) in the last year, your personal growth has stalled.
2. Intellectual “Skin in the Game”
The most credible people aren’t the ones who are always right; they are the ones who are transparently wrong. When a leader says, “I used to believe X, but I’ve seen new evidence and now I believe Y,” they don’t lose authority. They gain Trust. They prove that they are more committed to the truth than they are to their ego.
The Strategy: Use the phrase “I am currently of the opinion that…” rather than “The truth is…” It leaves a door open for a better idea to walk in.
3. The “Opposing View” Exercise
In our weekend editions, we often run “Pro vs. Con” columns. I’ve found that the best writers are those who can argue the opposing side so well that the opponent feels understood. If you can’t describe the smartest version of the argument you disagree with, you don’t actually understand your own position. You’re just reciting a script.
The Action: Once a week, read a high-quality source that challenges your worldview. Don’t read it to “debunk” it; read it to see what they might be right about.
4. The “Beta” Life
In the world of technology, “Beta” means the product is out in the world, but it’s still learning. Treat your life like a permanent Beta. Your career path, your morning routine, and your leadership style are all Experiments. Experiments don’t “fail”; they only provide data. When you stop fearing failure, you start craving information.
