Beyond the Told

by Dr. David M Robertson

Tag: leadership

Why Impostor Syndrome Might Be Awesome

Charles Darwin once said, “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.” In other words, people who know little often appear more confident than those who are more informed. This observation connects with two important psychological phenomena: the Dunning-Kruger Effect and impostor syndrome. I find this particularly interesting because most would likely suggest that both […]

Revolutionary Thoughts and Actions

In an age marked by conformity and groupthink, independent thought becomes a revolutionary act. Your thoughts matter. However, we live in a society that seems to be carefully designed to keep us compliant, distracted, and stagnant. Whether by design or by accident, that’s a problem because true progress begins with knowledge, critical thought, and action. […]

Empowerment vs. Safe Spaces

If you had to choose one, which would you rather be: Empowered or Safe? In recent years, the call for “safe spaces” has grown louder in workplaces, schools, and social environments alike. Sure, on the surface, a safe space sounds nice—a place where individuals can feel shielded from harm or distress, both physical and emotional. […]

The Puzzle of Personal Vision

If you want to find purpose and direction in life, it’s crucial to start with a deep understanding of yourself. This is a big part of ‘personal leadership.’ I liken this process to assembling a puzzle, where each piece represents a part of who you are and what you aim to achieve. Finding your purpose […]

Paradoxical Behaviors and Uninformed Advocacy

‘Paradoxical Behaviors and Uninformed Advocacy‘ seems like a weird title, but the truth is that human behavior is often contradictory. We find ourselves endorsing causes, policies, or actions that, upon closer inspection, don’t align with our true beliefs or best interests. This phenomenon isn’t just a quirk of human nature—it’s deeply rooted in cognitive processes […]

Perception, Perspective, and Accuracy

Do we want to be ‘right,’ or do we want to be ‘accurate?’ We now live in a world where information flows relentlessly from countless sources, which also means that the way we process and evaluate this information is crucial. Unfortunately, most ‘feel’ the information they consume. Very few analyze that information through a critical […]

The Coming Battle for Core Values

What are your core values? Are you willing to defend them? Are you willing to change them if someone you trusted asked you to? Are you willing to compromise them for the sake of convenience or to avoid a fight? Let’s find out. If you have followed my work, you probably know that the ascent […]

The Dangers of Learned Helplessness

Learned helplessness is a condition in which an individual feels powerless to change or control their situation, even when opportunities for change are available. This phenomenon was first identified by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the late 1960s during experiments with dogs. The dogs were subjected to electric shocks from which they couldn’t […]

Leadership Lessons from the Middle East

In leadership, the ability to make informed decisions is crucial, as the repercussions of those decisions can ripple across generations. The ongoing challenges in the Middle East are a great example of what happens when leaders act without fully understanding the complexities of the situations they face. I would argue that the turmoil in this […]

Conservatives in Academia: Overcoming Irony

It seems tremendously silly to criticize the scarcity of conservatives in academia while simultaneously dissuading conservatives from pursuing the education necessary to attain such positions. What other outcome can you realistically expect? Of course, this paradoxical stance has significant implications for the academic landscape and the broader societal discourse. Conservatives would be wise to reconsider […]