- Road to Growth
- Posts
- 🌎 Looking at the Big Picture | #32
🌎 Looking at the Big Picture | #32
Ray Dalio and The Blind Men and the Elephant
Armaan Athwal
July 13, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
In partnership with
By Armaan Athwal
Looking at the Big Picture
View my site: https://armaanathwal.com/
Approximate read time: 5 Minutes
Today's Overview:
Zooming out: Insights from Ray Dalio's Dot Collector
Seeing the whole elephant: The Blind Men and the Elephant Parable
Quote of the day
Zooming Out
I was listening to an older talk from a few years ago by Ray Dalio, one of the biggest investment and hedge fund managers in the world, worth billions.
During this talk, he mentions a system he uses in meetings called the dot collector, where team members can assess attributes of each other and rate them from 1-10.
What really caught my attention was when he explained how one person can rate you a certain way, good or bad. If you look at each rating individually, it could be disheartening, but when you zoom out and see the whole picture, it becomes just one of many opinions.
This perspective shift is powerful. Imagine being in a meeting where your colleagues are giving feedback. At first, it might feel overwhelming, especially if some of the dots aren't as positive as you'd like. On an individual level, the question of "How do I know if my opinion is right?" arises, and it might seem like this one person could have an incorrect opinion or judgment. But Dalio's advice, through this system, is to step back and view these ratings as part of a broader picture. Each dot represents a single viewpoint, and together, they create a comprehensive picture of your performance and areas for growth.
This system encourages everyone in the team to be open and honest, creating an environment where constructive criticism is welcomed and valued.
Meet our roster of incredible broths. Has 10 grams of protein and 50 calories; holistic gut and skin health. Beloved by NYC since 2014. Shop now.
Seeing the Whole Elephant
This part of the talk reminded me of the parable, "The Blind Men and the Elephant."
I.
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
II.
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! — but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
III.
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: “Ho! — what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ‘t is mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
IV.
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
V.
The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“‘T is clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
VI.
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
VII.
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
VIII.
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong.
Just like in the parable, where each blind man touches a different part of the elephant and believes he understands the whole creature, each person’s feedback in the dot collector system offers a limited perspective. It’s only by considering all these individual viewpoints together that you get a true understanding of the overall picture.
This happens in many other instances in life, where we take a small piece of information and use it as the key piece. We often form opinions and make decisions based on limited perspectives, leading to misunderstandings and misjudgments. This kind of ignorance narrows our vision and prevents us from seeing the full picture.
When we make an effort to understand diverse perspectives, we enrich our own understanding and make more informed decisions.
Expanding our vision means actively seeking out and valuing different opinions, even if they contradict our own. It’s about recognizing that our perspective is just one piece of the puzzle. By embracing this mindset, we can move beyond ignorance and create a deeper understanding of the world around us.
Quote of the Day
“If you just focus on the smallest details, you will never get the big picture right.” - Leroy Hood
Looking at the small details is great, but if you don't see the big picture, you could be heading in the wrong direction.
What did you think of today's newsletter?Your feedback will help shape the future of the newsletter! |