Being Observant is a Useful Skill

Kekich Credo #98 - The first rule of sharpening your mind is to be an alert and sensitive observer. Assume nothing. If it can’t be observed, it’s not true. Never act on blind faith. Whenever something sounds too good to be true, it almost always is. Refuse to be swayed by emotion when it conflicts with reason.

Observation is the genesis of all knowledge and progress… and is the first and last step of every thinking man’s tool – The Scientific Method. All science and most progress is built on the Scientific Method (most non-scientists use it by accident). The steps are:
1) OBSERVATION. Gathering and rationally organizing facts. This is where most people fail.
2) INDUCTIVE REASONING. Forming a hypothesis – or a generalization of facts held to be true.
3) EXTRAPOLATION. Making a projection or prediction based on the hypothesis in areas you didn’t yet observe.
4) OBSERVATION. A test for the hypothesis to see if it works.

When I read this credo statement today, the first thing that came to mind was Chemistry Class in High School and the weekly Lab Experiment Reports we had to write up. I think I will limit my post today to talk about the first sentence in this credo.  

The first rule of sharpening your mind is to be an alert and sensitive observer.  

When scientists conduct their research, they make observations and collect data.  Their observations can lead them to ask why something is the way it is.  These questions lead to more research and scientists can begin to think of ways to answer the questions they have.  The same is true for entrepreneurs.  When you make observations and collect data you can identify some problems which then can lead you to find solutions to these problems or issues.  

Making observations is defined as the gathering of information by noticing something.  You can use all five of your senses to make observations.  Your sense of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste can tell you many things. An observation can also be a question.  You ask questions because you want to know more about what you just observed.  You may want to know why or how something happens.  These are the questions you will answer as you do your research and test your ideas and solutions.

Why is observation important?  It lets us see unexpected things around us that might stimulate our curiosity and lead to new experiments and testing of possible solutions.

Being observant is a useful skill.  The more you practise, the better you will get.  Observant people notice body language.  It is a common belief that when you lie, you don’t make eye contact with the person you are lying to.  One can’t hide anything from an observant person.

Extremely observant people enjoy paying close attention to the details around them. They don’t want to miss things that are happening, and they see it as an opportunity to learn more.  Observational skills are the starting point for critical thinking.  People who are observant can quickly identify a new problem.  Those skilled in observation are capable of understanding why something might be a problem and help find solutions to those problems.

Sharpen your mind by intentionally noticing things around you.  Become a better observer.

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