Yeah, I Don’t Know
I used to love keeping up with technological innovations: the newest TVs, stereos, cellphones, gadgets, and all things electronics. However, as my time became more limited and my skill set in this area fell behind, I eventually conceded that it's not my lane. And as I often write about, I believe in knowing what our lanes are.....and what they aren't.
I have a handshake deal with my friend Ryan. Technology IS his lane. Technology to him is what work and money are to me. People trust him for his expertise and guidance. Here's my handshake deal with him. Whenever I need to purchase technology for my personal or professional life, he will send me a link. He doesn't explain this benefit, that feature, or xyz risk to me. I can't handle all that. Instead, he sends me a link. I explain roughly what I'm trying to accomplish, and he sends me a link. That's it.
For the past few months, we've been in the market for a new living room TV. As always, I explained my situation to Ryan and waited for a link. Well, I'm pleased to announce that yesterday was the day! He texted me a Best Buy link and said it was less than half the retail price. I immediately opened the link and purchased the TV. The entire thing took four-and-a-half minutes. A few moments later, Pax asked me about it:
"Dad, what brand is it?"
"I don't know."
"What size is it?"
"I don't know."
"What kind of screen is it?"
"I don't know."
"What makes it good?"
"No idea."
"Why did you buy it without knowing anything about it?"
"Because I trust Ryan."
This is one of my favorite things in life! I know a few things really, really well. Then, to fill in all my gaps, I attempt to recruit people around me who specialize in said things. The fact that I just purchased a new TV in less than five minutes without knowing anything about it, yet trusting it's going to be awesome, is a wonderful feeling! I'm pumped, and the family is, too.
I know I've tried to make this point multiple times recently, but hopefully this example illustrates it well. We don't have to be an expert in everything. We don't have to have strong opinions about everything. We don't need to be a know-it-all. Sometimes, we need to simply stay in our lane and trust people who run in their lanes. It makes life so much richer.....and simpler!
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