How Resources External Influences Effect Perception And Success

Perception is critical to success. If you approach a problem with a flawed perception of either the nature of the problem or the nature of your solution you are not likely to achieve the results you desire.

What Role Do Resources and External Influence Play?

So, if as accurate a perception of the reality of the situation is critical to a successful outcome, how much of a role can your resources and external influences play in forming a perception that leads to a successful outcome?

A recent thread on perception, framing and 'spin' combined with a recent thread in the I posted about this blog's theme to illustrate how important considering external influences can be.

I had carefully crafted the theme on my blog. Not only do I do a lot of under the skin stuff with my themes, but I spent a considerable amount of time selecting colors and positioning them on the skin in a way that looked pleasing.

When I asked people what they thought about my theme the overwhelming response had to do with my color selection. People seemed to like everything except my color scheme.

The Accumulation Of Evidence.

As the first couple of responses came in I thought, what are you talking about? These colors look perfectly good together? Are you color blind? I know that I am not.

But then more similar responses came in. What's going on here? People are talking about yellows and greens and purples. That was surprising since I had used only two shades of orange and four shades of blue to craft the theme. What were they talking about? Had I put in the wrong URL? Were they reviewing some other site?

No the URL was correct.

Nonetheless, I adjusted my color scheme. There was simply too much evidence suggesting that what I was seeing was different from what everyone else was seeing. I selected a 'redder' orange and a darker blue. People liked this scheme more, but then someone mentioned the freakin' green again.

A New Frame Of Reference.

My perception was shifting. I went and got a new monitor. God was what I had done before frightening! My perceptions of my site had been colored, as it were, by my faulty equipment.

What I was seeing was completely unlike what anyone else had been seeing.

Only by being open to evidence that was completely contradictory to my own perception was I able to correct that perception and reach a successful outcome.

I'm not really 100% satisfied with the colors I ended up with on this blog, but I'm keeping them as a reminder that my perceptions no matter how real they seem, can be based on faulty information and are subject to reevaluation!