Comments on: The Power of “I Don’t Know” http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/ The Business of Technology Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:05:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: The Motif of Employee Motivations (and how to leverage them). « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874696 The Motif of Employee Motivations (and how to leverage them). « FoundRead Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:07:27 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874696 [...] at his Janitor’s Blog. Chris’ earlier F|R posts include:Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2;The Power of “I Don’t Know”;Roses Where I Walk and most recently, Open Source, Closed Minds. 4 comments [...] [...] at his Janitor’s Blog. Chris’ earlier F|R posts include:Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2;The Power of “I Don’t Know”;Roses Where I Walk and most recently, Open Source, Closed Minds. 4 comments [...]

]]> By: Beware of Employees Tossing ‘Roses Where You Walk’ « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874697 Beware of Employees Tossing ‘Roses Where You Walk’ « FoundRead Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:48:27 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874697 [...] essays on the many challenges he faces at his Janitor’s Blog. See Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2, The Power of “I Don’t Know”, How the ‘CEO-Janitor’ Cleaned Up With DellToday we get another, this time on the dangers of [...] [...] essays on the many challenges he faces at his Janitor’s Blog. See Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2, The Power of “I Don’t Know”, How the ‘CEO-Janitor’ Cleaned Up With DellToday we get another, this time on the dangers of [...]

]]> By: The Power of “I Don’t Know” « SLO Entrepreneur - In Video http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874698 The Power of “I Don’t Know” « SLO Entrepreneur - In Video Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:03:35 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874698 [...] Posted February 10, 2008 from: http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/ The Power of “I Don’t Know” Editor’s Note: Serial founder Chris Lyman has agreed to share his Janitor’s Blog with us, which [...] [...] Posted February 10, 2008 from: (link) The Power of “I Don’t Know” Editor’s Note: Serial founder Chris Lyman has agreed to share his Janitor’s Blog with us, which [...]

]]> By: How the ‘CEO-Janitor’ Cleaned Up With Dell « FoundRead http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874691 How the ‘CEO-Janitor’ Cleaned Up With Dell « FoundRead Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:41:10 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874691 [...] has shared some of his management ideas with us here, too including Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2 and The Power of “I Don’t Know.” We also recommend you take a look at his recent treatise on open [...] [...] has shared some of his management ideas with us here, too including Startup Math: 1 + 1 = 1/2 and The Power of “I Don’t Know.” We also recommend you take a look at his recent treatise on open [...]

]]> By: Khürt http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874692 Khürt Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:36:22 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874692 I have learned to say "I don't know", quickly followed by, "I'll find out". I have learned to say “I don’t know”, quickly followed by, “I’ll find out”.

]]> By: Brett http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874693 Brett Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:05:43 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874693 I've caught myself being reluctant to saying "I don't know" recently. Ironically, I've also made jokes and slammed others who have tried to fool me into thinking they know something they clearly don't. You can sense it a mile a way. Everything you've written is so true. And to Will's comment about not getting a job, I think that idea is universal (or should be): if someone expects you to never admit to not knowing, then it probably won't be a good business relationship, anyway. I’ve caught myself being reluctant to saying “I don’t know” recently. Ironically, I’ve also made jokes and slammed others who have tried to fool me into thinking they know something they clearly don’t. You can sense it a mile a way. Everything you’ve written is so true. And to Will’s comment about not getting a job, I think that idea is universal (or should be): if someone expects you to never admit to not knowing, then it probably won’t be a good business relationship, anyway.

]]> By: Niyaz PK http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874694 Niyaz PK Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:01:53 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874694 Hmm.... I don't know. Hmm…. I don’t know.

]]> By: Will Scott http://gigaom.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874695 Will Scott Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:46:23 +0000 http://foundread.com/2007/12/27/the-power-of-i-dont-know/#comment-874695 Here's my thing: If you can't say "I don't know" you'll never say "Why?" "I don't know" was cited as a reason I didn't get hired for a job one time. The good news was I'd already realized I didn't want a job and was free to answer truthfully. There is a generation, however, for whom "I don't know" is akin to the scarlet letter. It's weakness, it's not manly. Does anybody remember Cliff Clavin? Originator of the "Male answer syndrome". It's not about what you know, it's about how convincing you can sound as you make it up :) Here’s my thing: If you can’t say “I don’t know” you’ll never say “Why?”

“I don’t know” was cited as a reason I didn’t get hired for a job one time. The good news was I’d already realized I didn’t want a job and was free to answer truthfully.

There is a generation, however, for whom “I don’t know” is akin to the scarlet letter. It’s weakness, it’s not manly.

Does anybody remember Cliff Clavin? Originator of the “Male answer syndrome”. It’s not about what you know, it’s about how convincing you can sound as you make it up :)

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