Stop, yield, retreat! There’s a scene in one of my favorite movies, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, where two characters Del Griffith (John Candy) and Neal Page (Steve Martin) are sharing a car ride to Chicago. As Del is driving on the expressway another driver yells out of the window, “You’re going the wrong way!” Del quickly dismisses the other driver and quips that this person has no idea what they’re talking about. Suddenly, they run smack-dab into a semitruck!
What happened here? The warning was clear that they were headed towards imminent danger. Did ego and pride get in the way? It’s important not only to pay attention, but also to listen. Disastrous results are preventable when we listen to learn and understand that others are only trying to help us. The key is to proceed with caution.
Warning signals can come from any source in any form, i.e., recommendations on how to perform better at a particular activity for clients, changing diet to prevent illness from a healthcare provider, creating a spending plan to get out of debt from a financial advisor, etc. The choice is ultimately up to us to see the red flags and dissect the warnings with grace for increased chances of a positive outcome. So the next time you see a red flag, the best thing to do is to stop, yield and retreat.