When You Shouldn’t Listen to

Experts: 5 Must Ask Questions

By Robert Pagliarini – Columnist for CBS MoneyWatch

Experts can be dangerous.

I'm the number one proponent of

using the other 8 hours to learn from
others, grow, and advance, but
whenever you find yourself seeking
information, guidance, or answers
from an authority figure such as an
expert or doctor, watch out! You just might save your life.

Last week James Arthur Ray, a self-help motivational speaker,

was arrested on three counts of manslaughter. He had a strong
and passionate following, and for the three who died and the 18
others who were treated at hospitals, they followed him too far.
James held a week-long spiritual retreat in Arizona where the
members participated in a 36-hour fast, sleep deprivation, and a
deadly sauna-like ceremony where 50+ participants endured
sweltering heat for 2 ½ hours.

As far as I know, participants were free to leave at any time. The

doors weren't locked and there were no burly guards blocking the
exit. So why didn't they? They followed an authority figure. They
hung up their judgment and ability to think for themselves at the
door. They looked to the leader -- the expert to whom some paid
$9,000 for the event -- to tell them what to do. Even after feeling
ill, vomiting, and collapsing, participants chose to stay. Of course,
you would have run for the door . . . or would you?

Ever since the holocaust, psychologists have been intrigued by our

obedience to authority figures. In one of the most infamous
experiments, a completely demented and absolutely brilliant
Stanley Milgram tested participants' willingness to obey an
authority figure who told them to administer dangerous shocks to
another subject. Shockingly, 65% of the participants administered
the highest voltage -- even after the subject complained about
having a heart condition!
It's amazing what we'll do when a stern guy in a lab coat tells us
to, but what does this have to do with you? Everything. Thought
leaders and experts can inspire and provide solutions, but if you
follow them blindly, you can do yourself harm. Similar to the work
I've done on the dangers of groupthink and social
networking, here are a few questions on how to get the most
from experts without losing yourself in the process:

1. What's the downside? This should always be question #1.

What's the worst thing that could happen? Make sure you are
clear on this before you do anything.
2. Does this make sense? You don't have to be an expert to
have common sense. If you get advice or are asked to do
something, step back and ask yourself if it makes sense.
3. Why shouldn't I do this? All signs point to yes, but can you
think of any reason why you shouldn't take the expert's advice? If
you are experiencing cognitive dissonance, you may not want to
question what you're doing, but it's at this point where you need
to the most.
4. What harm could come if I don't do this? Will the world
end? Will you lose a limb? Sometimes we build things up in our
head to where we feel intense pressure to do something, but this
question is great for deflating things and for putting the situation
back into perspective.
5. What would happen if I waited? Really bad decisions are
often made without much thought or reflection. Take a step back.
Give yourself some time before you commit to anything.

In your quest to find answers and guidance, be careful not to

blindly follow experts and authority figures. Make sure you ask
yourself these five questions before you act. Trust me, I'm an
expert...

(Question Authority image by Mira Hartford, CC 2.0)

 For a limited time, you can download
several free resources (assessment,
poster, audio interview, video, and
more) at www.other8hours.com
and learn more about my new book,
The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your
Free Time to Create New Wealth &
Purpose.

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