Some of the worst decisions I’ve ever made—in business, in security, as a father, as a husband, and as a human being—came from a lack of context.

I thought I had the full picture. I thought I knew enough. I thought I was right.

I wasn’t.

And if you’re being honest with yourself, you’ve probably made the same mistake.

The reality is, most bad decisions don’t come from stupidity—they come from incomplete information. We act on what we know, but what we know is often not the whole story.

So, what’s the solution? Perspective.

If you want to make better decisions—if you want to solve difficult problems, lead better, live better—you have to actively seek out perspectives beyond your own. Especially the ones that challenge you.

Bad Decisions Start with a Narrow View

Think about some of the worst decisions you’ve made. The moments where, looking back, you realize how wrong you were.

How many of those came from missing context?

• In business: Maybe you dismissed an idea or a warning because it didn’t fit your narrative—until it was too late.
• In security: Maybe you built a strategy based on assumptions, only to realize you weren’t seeing the full risk picture.
• In relationships: Maybe you reacted out of frustration, misunderstanding the other person’s intentions.
• In life: Maybe you judged someone without understanding their story, only to realize later how little you actually knew.

Bad context = bad decisions. It’s that simple.

And the worst part? You never know what you don’t know.

That’s why seeking perspective isn’t optional—it’s essential.

The Power of Many Perspectives

The best leaders, the best security pros, the best parents, the best problem-solvers—they all have one thing in common:

They don’t just rely on their own perspective.

They seek out different viewpoints. They listen to people who think differently. They ask questions instead of assuming they already have the answers.

Why? Because no single person, no matter how smart or experienced, can see the full picture alone.

• In business, the best leaders surround themselves with people who challenge their thinking.
• In security, the best defenders think like attackers.
• In relationships, the strongest couples and families value communication over assumptions.
• In life, the most successful people never stop learning from those around them.

The more perspectives you have, the clearer your decisions become.

The Hardest Part: Getting Out of Your Own Way

Here’s the truth—most people don’t actually want new perspectives.

They want confirmation. They want to be told that they’re right. They want to stay in their comfort zone.

And that’s a dangerous place to be.

Because growth doesn’t happen in an echo chamber.

• If you’re only listening to people who agree with you, you’re not learning.
• If you’re shutting down opinions that challenge you, you’re not growing.
• If you assume you already know the answer, you’re not solving the problem—you’re reinforcing your own biases.

The hardest part about gaining perspective is admitting that you might be wrong.

But the moment you do that? You get better.

How to Actually Do This

So, how do you start making better decisions? How do you expand your perspective instead of limiting it?

1. Shut up and listen.

Seriously. Listen more than you talk. And when you do listen, actually pay attention instead of waiting for your turn to speak.

2. Seek out different perspectives—especially the ones you don’t like.

If you only listen to people who think like you, you’re not getting new information—you’re just reinforcing what you already believe. Go out of your way to talk to people who see the world differently.

3. Ask better questions.

Instead of assuming you know the answer, ask:

• “What am I missing?”
• “How do you see this differently?”
• “What’s the perspective I’m not considering?”

4. Recognize when your ego is getting in the way.

Your brain will fight against information that challenges your beliefs. That’s normal. Recognize it, push through it, and stay open anyway.

5. Make decisions based on reality, not just what you want to be true.

Your opinion doesn’t change reality. Facts do. The more perspectives you have, the closer you get to seeing things for what they really are—not just how you wish they were.

Final Thoughts

The best decisions come from context. The best context comes from many perspectives.

And the only way to get those perspectives? You have to seek them out.

So, the next time you’re faced with a big decision—pause.

Ask yourself:

• Do I really have the full picture?
• What perspective am I missing?
• Who else should I be listening to?

Because the difference between success and failure, growth and stagnation, good and bad decisions—it all comes down to what you know and who you listen to.

And if you’re only listening to yourself? You’re flying blind.

It’s time to fix that

NOTE: I have NOT mastered ANY of this, I’m learning as I go. In a world so divided, where so many decisions we make seem crazy, I’m learning to appreciate the value of perspective more each day.