How My Cognizance and Awareness Has Improved Over Time

I think one of the "skills" that has markedly improved over time is my cognizance.

I'm much more cognizant and aware of what I'm doing and saying, how I'm doing and saying these things, how what I do and say might affect others, and how those things, in turn, will affect me.

Maybe it's a function of being older and more mature (my maturity is debatable, though). It might also be my exposure to different types of work, people, and experiences over time.

I believe that being an entrepreneur has truly humbled me and made me much more aware of my strengths and weaknesses.

When you work for a larger company, you can more easily cover up your shortcomings. When you work for yourself, a startup, or a small business, your weaknesses can become much more exposed if you fail to deliver, because your impact is much greater, for better or for worse.

I think producing my podcast really taught me to be concise, speak clearly, ask good questions, and be aware of how these questions might be interpreted. I've learned how to manage different personalities under specific constraints and get the most out of every minute of a short conversation.

And in my personal life, I believe having a child really puts things into perspective and forces me to think things through before making any major moves. It also compels me to be more productive and maximize the use of my free time, since there's much less of it now.

I believe that the people I've met, the work that I've done, and the experiences that I've accrued have helped me better understand and be more aware of my surroundings and actions.

How about you? Do you believe that you've become more cognizant? If so, why?