Water: Seeing Your Default Perspective

"There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, 'Morning, boys. How's the water?' And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, 'What the hell is water?'"

David Foster Wallace's legendary commencement speech "Water." has had a profound impact on my "default mode of thinking" that we take for granted. His parable is a vivid reminder that we all swim in the same water.

The water is the mind's initial depiction of reality is an illusion, a certain way of thinking, one that revolves around our own experiences, biases, and preconceptions. My Success. My Impact. My work ethic. My profitability. My holidays. My vision. The water represents our default perspective, which can be limiting and, at times, even destructive especially if not given the space to be challenged.

As founders, we can become so entrenched in our ways of operating that we forget there's an entire world outside of our familiar environment. During my earlier years as a founder, I was driven by a relentless pursuit of success, constantly seeking ways to optimise my businesses and secure a competitive advantage. But in doing so, I often overlooked the importance of empathy and understanding different perspectives. This is where the wisdom of failure came into play.

In one hasty regional expansion effort, I was adamant that my approach was the best one, and in the process, I failed to truly recognise the needs and concerns of multiple stakeholders. This was a painful, humiliating and humbling experience that forced me to question my default perspective and incorporate empathy so that my decision making could be more multi-dimensional.

Since then, I incorporate regular feedback sessions with my team, customers and partners. This has enabled me to learn more about their experiences, concerns, and ideas, and it has fostered a more open and collaborative culture within our organisation. Pro tip: in team meetings, wait till the end of the discussions before communicating your thoughts so as to not subconsciously sabotage everyone's view of water. Remember to stay aware of the "water" and continuously strive to see the world through the eyes of others.

As leaders, we must be conscious of our thoughts and actions and how they affect the people around us. Wallace says, "The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day." I love to challenge my assumptions and prioritise listening and empathy over my own preconceived notions. By stepping out of my default perspective with a simple pause of awareness, I have discovered new ways to grow as a leader.

Wallace's "Water" speech serves as a powerful reminder to founders that our default perspective is not the only one that matters and is far from accurate. By challenging our assumptions and embracing empathy, we can become more effective leaders and foster a culture of understanding, collaboration, and innovation. This shift in perspective might just be the key to unlocking your full potential as a founder, especially when evolving from a 7 figure to an 8 and 9 figure mindset.

My mentors elaborate that true wisdom is respecting how little you know and how much you don't know you don't know even after decades in the trenches of entrepreneurship. Real growth, both personally and professionally, happens when we challenge ourselves to see things differently.

You can find David Foster Wallace beautiful "This is Water" speech here: