Two people can look at the exact same contract, the same set of facts, the same business opportunity, and come away with completely different interpretations. It’s not that one person is right and the other is wrong. It’s that we’re all viewing the world through the unique filter of our own experiences, biases, and beliefs. The old saying holds true: we don’t see the world as it is, we see the world as we are.
Think about the last time you sat across the table from someone you were negotiating with such as opposing counsel, a potential business partner, or a new client or vendor. Their assessment of risk related to what was being negotiated probably looked nothing like yours. None of the perspectives each of you had are objectively correct or incorrect, but they profoundly shape how you each assessed the situation and made decisions.
The danger comes when we forget that our lens exists at all. When we mistake our subjective interpretation for objective reality, we become rigid, defensive, and ultimately less effective. The most successful professionals I know share a common trait: they actively question their own assumptions and seek to understand how their personal history colors their judgment.
This self-awareness isn’t about second-guessing every decision or falling into analysis paralysis. It’s about recognizing that your background and experiences shape how you view everything and are foundational to your comfort (or lack thereof) with risk. When you understand how you see the world, you gain the ability to step outside that viewpoint when necessary. You become better at understanding people, communicating with diverse stakeholders, and making decisions based on actual circumstances rather than projected fears or assumptions.
The next time you find yourself certain that you’re seeing a situation clearly while everyone else seems confused, pause for a moment. Ask yourself what experiences are shaping your perception. Consider what someone with a different background might notice that you’re missing. This practice doesn’t weaken your judgment, it strengthens it. Because while we’ll never see the world with perfect objectivity, understanding our own lens gives us the closest thing to clarity that we can achieve. And that edge makes all the difference.
