EPTIf you read "Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson, there's the idea of how focusing on results doesn't work. That's because results are just at the end of the whole chain of things that lead to the results. Focusing on just results doesn't address the elements that cause results. Same with focusing on actions. It doesn't work, it's just one element in the whole chain of elements that lead to results.
If you read "Principles" by Ray Dalio, there's an idea striking, in part, a similar chord. Mr. Dalio mentions how you need to look at yourself as a machine operating within a larger machine. That means stepping back from what you're doing and evaluating your way of operating (way of operating = machine in Mr. Dalio's terms) from a designer perspective.
If you read "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin, it's the idea of detaching.
It's just to step back from a scenario, look at it, look at what you're doing from an outside observer perspective.
Nothing to complicate about this idea. But it's a habit and a standard that must be kept. It's absolutely critical.
Not doing it - or doing it poorly or with failing infrequency - generally leads to failing to step out of your own biases. This can create more of them. Which then can create even more. The slippery slope. Then there's so much bias, not only does the person not realize, it's hard for anybody to get a person out of it.
Let's say you're making your to-do list for the next day. You want to also step back from that and consider how it'd look like if you were a neutral bystander. Just observing someone else doing whatever it is that they're doing, with no other interest than to see it and assess it accurately from a neutral standpoint.
That's the equivalent of brushing your teeth, except this is brushing your perspective of off bullshit, nonsense and bias, at least to some degree.
How to do it, practically?
I don't know but I think I like the idea of imagining stepping back and looking, as if I was some alien creature, just curious about what in the fuck is this person doing and why and what do they believe that course of action will amount to - and what is that course of action to actually amount to.
The other is to consistently seek inputs from other people who are trustworthy and dependable, in terms of both insight, common sense and being non-biased. With no perspectives from other, trustworthy people, it's very unlikely someone will be able to see themselves objectively, as it's just very hard thing for a human being to really do well.
It's a habit to train.
Which means, I start with setting the goal of being this kind of an individual - someone who's very adept in terms of being neutral, objective, habitually stepping back and looking at things from a wider, more strategic perspective. Then I train it. Until I see myself being more and more of that kind of a person.
