How To Be Accurate: Assume You Aren't Accurate

The other day, I sent out an email with the wrong link embedded. As soon as it went out, I had a feeling I might have made a mistake. I checked the link. It was wrong. 

Before I sent the email, I said to myself, “I’ve sent out a thousand emails and they’re never wrong.” And I didn’t double check the link. 

This is the irony of accuracy–when we assume we have it, we’re more likely make mistakes. When we assume we might be wrong, we double check our work and catch mistakes. And we become more accurate. 

There’s a certain rush we get when we’re able to remember phone numbers and Tax IDs off the top of our head. There’s a certain pride we feel when we say, “I’ve sent out a thousand emails, and they’re never wrong” and then send out an email without double checking. 

I think it makes us feel smart in the short-term, like we’re sharp and quick with information. But in the age of computers and algorithms, memorization smarts can’t hold a candle to technology. We’ll never be as sharp or quick as basic computers. 

I’m trying to unlearn “school smarts”–fact memorization, mental math, etc. I want to reallocate that mental energy towards “real world smarts”–creating connections, interpreting information, making wise choices. 

One final piece of advice: assume you aren’t accurate. Double check your work. You’ll actually be accurate that way.