I struggle with perfectionism, and this quote helps me on a couple of different levels. I’ve been blind to many things in my life, and I’m always grateful to the kings who’ve helped show me the way. It really did not matter how many eyes they had — they knew more than me.
In Business:
What value can you bring to your market? Chances are, you know plenty about one or more particular subjects that others don’t.
In Chip and Dan Heath’s excellent book, Made To Stick, they talk about the “curse of knowledge.” When you know something, it’s easy to assume everyone else knows it, too. You also forget what it was like not to know.
If you ever find yourself looking for a new business idea, ask yourself what questions people seem to come to you for help with. Perhaps this is an area of expertise or specialized knowledge that people might be willing to pay you for.
You don’t have to be the world’s foremost expert on the subject either. As long as you know a little bit more than the people you’re helping, the service you’re providing them is valuable.
In Life:
I mentioned earlier I struggle with perfectionism. The most damaging effect it can have on a person’s life is procrastination from thinking you always need to know just a little bit more before you begin anything.
I just need to read one more article, watch one more instructional video, attend one more class… then I’ll be ready. But all that extra knowledge isn’t necessary to begin.
If I’m blind in a certain subject, I just need to know enough to get one eye open. Then I can learn more about the thing while I’m simultaneously doing the thing.
So remember…
In the land of the blind, even the one-eyed man is king.
— Desiderius Erasmus