I had a professor in college — Dr. Hinsel. God rest his soul.
Great guy. One of those you either loved him or hated him types.
He taught an exit course on marketing strategy. Every week, he’d give us a business problem, and we had to come up with a strategy to solve it. Then, we’d pitch it to the class.
Now picture this: I’m sitting in the back, wearing sunglasses indoors, watching student after student walk up and get absolutely wrecked. Great ideas. Some fantastic thinking. But Dr. Hinsel would tear them apart like a fireman’s axe through plywood.
Red faces. Squinted eyes. Angry stares. Students storming off stage like moody grandmothers robbed of bingo winnings.
Then it was my turn.
I knew I was screwed. Because this wasn’t about marketing strategy. The ideas didn’t matter.
So I step up. First question out of his mouth?
“Mr. I Think I’m Cool — why the hell are you wearing sunglasses in my classroom?”
(Class laughs.)
Not off to a great start.
I took them off.
“Jesus. What happened to you?”
“I’ve got a stye in each eye, sir.”
Maybe I’d get some sympathy.
“Put the glasses back on. The class doesn’t want to see that.”
Nope. Definitely no sympathy.
I pitched my idea — something about increasing sales of fresh dog food. (This was the early 2000s, mind you.)
Immediately, he’s on me: What about this? Why didn’t you consider that? Have you thought about X, Y, or Z?
“Great points, sir. I’m not married to my idea.”
He pauses. Smiles.
“That’s right. Don’t ever get married to your ideas. That’s enough. Sit down. You’re scaring the class.”
Maybe it was the giant whiteheads in my eyes. Or maybe I passed the test. I’ll never know.
But what I do know is what I learned:
When someone challenges your idea, don’t defend. Get curious. Explore their point of view. If their idea’s better, go with it.
There’s no reward for clinging to a mediocre idea just to get credit. Real strength? It’s in choosing what works best — not what’s yours.