BY OLAWALE DAVID OYINLADE

Life takes us all through different journeys from childhood to adulthood and so is the knowledge we acquire as we grow in life.
The outcome is different for most of us even when we go through the same era in life. For some us, it provides us a new opportunity to learn and find better ways of doing the same thing and for others it helps us recognise what we must not try doing again.
Whatever the outcome it is for your and your life’s events is not a matter for this post but let’s look at how staying open can give you different outcomes.
Sometime in the past, when I find myself with others and a problem arises; I always try to help solve the problem based on experience or acquired knowledge. Sometimes my suggestion works and other times it fails.
But is it really the best thing to do? Could it be that there might be other ways to achieve the same results and even with little effort?
The answer is “YES”!
We live in a world that thousands of years old with billions of people before us. It is foolish to find a solution and believe it is the best. Or have one source of information as the trusted source.. No!
The fact that many people have lived before us means that there are so many different approaches to solve our everyday problems; in business, life and relationships.
So to stay open, it is necessary that you make deliberate efforts to expose yourself to different schools of thought in your profession, relationship and the lifestyle you have chosen to lead.
What you know is never enough so be insatiable, continuously seeking for knowledge on new ways to do things.
When you stay open you will be able to:
(1). Optimize Your Thoughts
The magic lies in the fact that even though, it may not give you a new idea, it may help you to fine tune your thought or even help you to start thinking in a totally different way and birth new ideas.
(2). Focus of the Correct Solution
This is also true in business where you offer products and services. Take time to find out from your customers what problems they are trying to solve with your products and services.
The response might sound crazy but remember that you need customers to succeed. Even if you do not agree with your customer’s suggestions but you will be able to understand the solution they are seeking and create it.
(3). Become a Better Person
In the world today, so many wars are caused by the fact that some people believe that the only way to think is their way and every other person is mad.
This is true especially when it comes to religion and spirituality.
The truth is that there are so many great things about all religions, but because most people are not open, they condemn them from far.
I do not mean that you should not take your religion or spiritual inclinations seriously, but it is in listening to others and understanding their stories that we are able to see where they are coming from. This might even offer you an opportunity to share your views.
When you understand this, you will surely be a better person because you will be able to pick up the great things about other people’s way of life and use it to your advantage.