Dr Rebel: A rebel with a curse ☢️
Today’s question: I see problems and opportunities from miles away, but no one ever listens. Help!
Cassandra was a princess of Troy in Greek mythology, known for her beauty and wisdom. The god Apollo fell in love with her and offered her the gift of prophecy if she would love him back. But Cassandra rejected him, and Apollo became very angry. In retaliation, he cursed her so that although she would always speak the truth, no one would believe her predictions.
Cassandra’s curse led to a life of tragedy. This curse made her both a tragic figure and a symbol of unheeded wisdom, forever doomed to know the truth yet unable to prevent the calamities she foresaw, such as the fall of Troy.
You might feel as frustrated as Cassandra, but let’s try to prevent you from suffering the same fate.
Future thinkers
Fellow rebels Carmen Medina and Lois Kelly from Rebels At Work did tons of research on rebellious behaviour. One of the things they discovered is that most rebels tend to be more energised by creating possibilities than achieving certainty. They are future thinkers.
Carmen and Lois define three thinking styles:
- Future thinking: sees possibilities and intuitively knows which are the most likely opportunities
- Present thinking: seeks to create stability, and therefore safety, by controlling events and outcomes
- Past thinking: wants as much data as possible and is concerned with accuracy and truth
Mind the gap!
Their research shows that although rebels are predominantly future thinkers, most fell in the intersection of future, present, and past thinking. That means rebels can also speak the language of past and present thinkers. That can be very helpful to get your message across. Whenever you see a potential problem or opportunity, make sure you craft your message so that it resonates with the person(s) you are talking to.
Who is who?
You can easily distinguish past, present and future thinkers from one another by the questions they will ask you:
- A past thinker questions you on facts, details, and historical context. They may seek validation and proof for information and prefer concrete evidence.
- A present thinker will ask questions that emphasize control, immediate action, and practical solutions. They are often concerned with what can be done immediately to maintain order and security.
- A future thinker asks questions to explore potential outcomes, envision possibilities, and focus on long-term goals. They are often forward-looking, asking about what can be achieved or created.
Prepare your conversation
Now that you know what kind of questions you can expect during the conversation, you can use these statements to prepare well. Whenever you have a mixed audience, make sure you use a variety of statements to address everyone in the conversation.
- Past thinkers’ conversations focus on ensuring that information is precise, verifiable, and historically grounded.
- Present thinkers’ conversations often revolve around ensuring that things are manageable and the current state remains stable, often through careful planning and organisation.
- Future thinkers’ conversations often involve dreaming about the future, considering various possibilities, and being excited about what could be achieved or discovered ahead. They look to opportunities and are generally optimistic about the potential outcomes.
Freed from Cassandra’s curse
Would Cassandra have been able to change her fate with this approach? Who knows! But you are not cursed, so it will surely benefit you!
do you have a burning question for dr rebel?