On a daily basis, I see a large difference in me compared to almost all other people. This has to do with how I approach anything where I’m trying to have influence on the outcome.

I’ve found that many people look around at what everyone else is doing and what other’s standards are. Then they may set their goals at the same level or increase them somewhat. I on the other hand have always naturally taken a different approach. My approach has been, first to look to the ideal result, then move the goal down based on the reality of the situation.

I have always approached everything this way my entire life. So many people have disagreed with me on things because they said I was not being realistic. Of course, I always make sure I can logically prove my side and when I do the other party usually just tells me “Brian, that’s just the way things are done” without being able to provide a full explanation of the Why.

I believe in being a realist. The difference is that I believe people are much more capable than others do.

This basic mindset in everything, of looking to the ideal then adjusting down, has been with me for as long as I can remember. In fact, I use this so much that one of the defining words for me would be “Idealist.”

I think this is the best way to approach things. If done perfectly it gives you an outlook on what ideally can be achieved and adjusts your goals down to fit with what realistically can be achieved but the output usually ends up being higher then when basing on other’s.

I simply care about the maximum of what can truthfully be done, not just what everyone else is doing.