By
Mendy Green
December 12, 2022
•
20 min read
Fundamental Skills
Professional Development
Critical Thinking in 5
Critical thinking is an essential skill for success in both personal and professional life. It involves the ability to think independently and objectively, to analyze and evaluate information and arguments, and to make sound and logical decisions.
Learning critical thinking is not always easy, but it is a skill that can be developed and improved with practice. Here are some tips for how to learn critical thinking:
- Practice asking questions: Critical thinking involves questioning assumptions and looking at situations from different perspectives. Practice asking questions about the information you encounter, such as “Why is this true?” or “What evidence supports this claim?”. Feel free to start with this one right here 😉
- Seek out diverse perspectives: To think critically, it’s important to consider multiple viewpoints and perspectives. Seek out diverse sources of information and listen to others with different backgrounds and experiences.
- Evaluate sources of information: In today’s information-rich world, it’s important to be able to evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources. Consider factors such as the author’s expertise and credentials, the date and source of the information, and any potential biases or conflicts of interest.
- Take your time: Critical thinking takes time and effort. Don’t be afraid to take a step back and reflect on a situation before making a decision. Consider the potential consequences of your actions and be open to changing your mind based on new information.
- Practice regularly: Like any skill, critical thinking improves with practice. Take opportunities to apply critical thinking in your everyday life, and in some cases, you’ll find that you’ve already been doing it subconsciously!
Assumptions are an important part of the critical thinking process, as they help us make sense of the world and make predictions about future events. However, assumptions can also be dangerous, as they can lead us to make false or misguided conclusions.
One of the dangers of assumptions is that they can be based on incomplete or incorrect information. For example, if we make an assumption about someone’s intentions based on limited information, we may be mistaken and draw the wrong conclusion. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts with otherwise could have been avoided, whereas when we properly assess a situation, it keeps us agile and allows us to adjust to meet the new circumstances (both in personal and professional lives).
Another danger of assumptions is that they can lead us to become overconfident in our beliefs and conclusions. When we make an assumption, we may be more likely to ignore or dismiss something that we see or that someone tells us that contradicts our assumption. This can lead to confirmation bias, where we only consider evidence that supports our assumption, and can prevent us from seeing the whole picture, or alternative perspectives.
Despite these dangers, assumptions are still necessary in the critical thinking process. Without assumptions, we wouldn’t have a way to continue moving forward through the process Instead, we would have to rely on raw data and facts, and we’d be stuck without being able to collect new raw data. Making an assumption is necessary for us to test the raw data and allow us to collect more (such as if the assumption is right or wrong). It’s kind of like shaking the wrapped present to see if we can guess what’s inside…we just need to be prepared for the possibility that we might break it.
With assumptions being so crucial to the Critical Thinking process, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of assumptions and to approach them cautiously. We should be open to revising or rejecting our assumptions based on new evidence, and we should strive to be as objective and unbiased as possible. By doing so, we have a greater change of avoiding the dangers of assumptions and successfully use them to our advantage.
It’s important to update and revise the things we know when presented with evidence that contradicts it, sometime even when they’re not assumptions. This is because our understanding of the world is always evolving, and new information and evidence can challenge and expand our current beliefs and knowledge.
Updating and revising our beliefs and knowledge based on new evidence is an essential part of the critical thinking process. It allows us to be more objective and unbiased, and to avoid making false or misguided conclusions. By being open to new information and evidence, we can gain a more accurate and complete understanding of the world around us.
In a rapidly changing world, it’s important to be able to adjust and update our understanding of the world in order to make informed and effective decisions. By updating and revising our beliefs and knowledge, we can remain open to new ideas and opportunities, and can continue to learn and grow.
I'm passionate about IT, driven by a dual love for solving complex problems and a commitment to transforming the stereotype of technical support into a positive and enjoyable user experience. For over 13 years, I've been deeply involved in the MSPGeek community, lending my expertise to various Managed Service Providers (MSPs), while also serving as the CTO at IntelliComp Technologies.
My journey in the tech world is fueled by a passion for teaching others. I find great satisfaction in imparting problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and offering practical guidance during the troubleshooting process. It's this enthusiasm for mentorship and improvement that led me to my current venture.
Today, as the founder of Rising Tide, I'm focusing on the MSP industry, dedicating my time to coaching and assisting both individuals and businesses. At Rising Tide, we're not just about providing solutions; we're about nurturing growth, fostering innovation, and building a community where everyone can rise together. Whether it's through hands-on problem solving or strategic planning, my goal is to make the IT experience not just efficient, but also empowering and enjoyable
See some more of our most recent posts...
Chapter-by-Chapter Discussion Questions for The Go-Giver by Bob Burg: Chapter Five - The Law of Compensation
Can success scale without selling out? Chapter 5 of The Go-Giver says yes: serve more people, serve them better. Explore the “rich vs. good” myth, what to do when generosity gets taken for granted, and how practiced improvisation (“you just make it up”) guides real-time decisions that create value at scale.
Read post
About this Series
This discussion guide is part of Rising Tide’s Fall 2025 book club, where we’re reading The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann.
If you’re just joining us, here are a few pages you’ll likely benefit from:
- Chapter One – The Go-Getter for an introduction on how to use these Discussion Questions
- Book Clubs, Conversations, and Curiosity for why we started a book club for a technical team here
Chapter Summary
In Chapter 5, the Law of Compensation, Joe meets successful CEO, Nicole, amidst a chaotic and playful work environment, again dismantling our concept of success and professionalism. Nicole teaches Joe the Second Law of Stratospheric Success: Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
Discussion Questions
Use these open-ended prompts to guide reflection and conversation. Remember, there are no right answers!
- Do you see a difference in the two different ways they present the 2nd Law? (“Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.” vs. “Your compensation is directly proportional to how many lives you touch”)?_
- Are there times that you shared an idea with someone and it worked out poorly? What about one where it worked out splendidly?
- How do you feel about the idea of there being two types of people in this world: those who get rich, and those who do good? Where do you feel that belief comes from?
- Can you relate to Nicole getting nervous and sabotaging her own success?
- You just make it up. How did this statement make you feel?
Rising Tide Input for your Consideration
- On the "rich vs. good" binary.
- Many of us definitely internalize some form of the “to get rich, you have to step on a lot of people to get money” or “to get super rich, you don’t have time to do good”
- Examples that extend and complicate that binary
- 20 People Confront a Billionaire (ft. John Morgan) this billionaire considers that he's doing good for others. Subjectively, people may think they’re doing good. His wife gave away $500,000 USD and he didn't even know about it.
- Dolly Parton, arguably one of the most successful musical artists, has invested millions of her own money in improving education outcomes, healthcare, animal welfare, LGBTQ+ youth, and even Appalachian cultural preservation.
- Billie Eilish was recently honored for her music at the Wall Street Journal Innovator's award, where she spoke to billionaires in the audience after she herself gave away 1/4 of her net worth: "No hate, but give your money away, shorties". Billie Eilish tells billionaires to give away more of their money | AP News
- Not every rich person is successful, not every successful person is rich.
- Have you ever experienced some of your most challenging customers are often the wealthiest? It's almost like they've lost the experience and the value of the work being done?
- Comes back to our perspective and the definition of success. If money is your only metric for meaning, you may be missing the plot.
- On having our generosity taken for granted
- It's happened to all of us. The question is: do you live and learn, do you trust people again the next time?
- The failings of others can make us jaded or they can make us wise. There is a huge difference.
- We encourage you to identify markers of trustworthy and honest partners and people, and to instead of promising to never share again, promise to only share with those who truly will be honorable with your energy, time, and skill.
- On "You just make it up"
- There's research about how Jazz musicians aren't thinking through their performances, but rather going through the flow and feeling it out in the moment! This can be encouraging: we don't have to know all of the answers in the moment, but the work we do to create the type of person we want to be can help guide us through true game-time decisions. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98332-x.pdf
- On Songs and Stories with Kelly Clarkson, we learn that Gloria Estafan and the Miami Sound Machine's iconic song, Conga, came from a pure encore. It was riffing that came from sheer shared energy between the band and the crowd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJeg1wFBNFA&msockid=0a5959e7b66211f096d8057420e615b7
About Rising Tide and our Book Club
Rising Tide helps MSPs and service-focused teams build better systems: the kind that align people with purpose.
Every Friday at 9:30 AM ET, we host Rising Tide Fridays as an open conversation for MSP owners, consultants, and service professionals who want to grow both professionally, technically, and emotionally. In Fall/Winter 2025, we’re walking through The Go-Giver, chapter by chapter.
If that sounds like your kind of crowd, reach out to partners@risingtidegroup.net for the Teams link.
Bring your coffee and curiosity…no prep required.
Chapter-by-Chapter Discussion Questions for The Go-Giver by Bob Burg: Chapter Four - The Condition
What happens when you serve the client even if it means sending them elsewhere? Chapter 4 of The Go-Giver shows how giving more than you take builds trust, loyalty, and outcomes that outlast clout. We explore long-tail generosity, practical ways to add value, and a real MSP example of earning devotion by automating without upsells.
Read post
About this Series
This discussion guide is part of Rising Tide’s Fall 2025 book club, where we’re reading The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. If you’re just joining us, here are a few pages you’ll likely benefit from:
- Chapter One – The Go-Getter for an introduction on how to use these Discussion Questions
- Book Clubs, Conversations, and Curiosity for why we started a book club for a technical team here
Chapter Four Discussion
Chapter Summary
In Chapter 4, The Condition, Joe if back in the office and we find him losing yet another customer. This, time, however, in an effort to test the First Law of Stratospheric Success (Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment), he guides the customer to a competitor who may be able to better fit his needs.
Discussion Questions
Use these open-ended prompts to guide reflection and conversation. Remember, there are no right answers!
- How did Joe giving the customer to Joe’s competition make you feel?
- How was Joe’s action representative of giving more in value than he takes in payment?
- Can you describe a time a person gave you more in value than you paid? How did that make you feel?
- What are ways in your life that you can practice giving more in value than you take in payment?
Rising Tide Input for your Consideration
- Success is about perspective. You can be successful by your own goals, and not standard expectations of power, money, and attention.
- Our friend and MSP Owner at Network Integration Specialists in Virginia, Doug White, mentioned that he's enjoying making automations for his customers and not charging extra, and how those actions spark unsolicited client replies like, “This is awesome”. Truly the kind of experience the next MSP will have a hard time matching!
- Give without scoreboard math. Community help, answering questions, volunteering, parenting: these are “long-tail” investments that compound in character and network, not just invoices.
- We're curious! Maybe Gus has layers. There’s likely more going on with him than the mentor archetype...let's file that for later.
About Rising Tide and our Book Club
Rising Tide helps MSPs and service-focused teams build better systems: the kind that align people with purpose. Every Friday at 9:30 AM ET, we host Rising Tide Fridays as an open conversation for MSP owners, consultants, and service professionals who want to grow both professionally, technically, and emotionally. In Fall/Winter 2025, we’re walking through The Go-Giver, chapter by chapter. If that sounds like your kind of crowd, reach out to partners@risingtidegroup.net for the Teams link. Bring your coffee and curiosity…no prep required.
Chapter-by-Chapter Discussion Questions for The Go-Giver by Bob Burg: Chapter Three - The Law of Value
What makes a business truly valuable? Chapter 3 of The Go-Giver reframes worth: deliver more value than you take. Explore Ernesto’s playbook—care as a differentiator, authentic generosity, and spotting hidden value in plain sight—to build customer experiences that create trust, loyalty, and momentum.
Read post
About this Series
This discussion guide is part of Rising Tide’s Fall 2025 book club, where we’re reading The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. If you’re just joining us, here are a few pages you’ll likely benefit from:
- Chapter One – The Go-Getter for an introduction on how to use these Discussion Questions
- Book Clubs, Conversations, and Curiosity for why we started a book club for a technical team here
Chapter Three Discussion
Chapter Summary
In Chapter 3, The Law of Value, Joe and Pindar visit a busy Italian-American cafe and its owner/head chef/real estate magnate: Ernesto. Here, we learn The First Law of Stratospheric Success: “Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment”
Discussion Questions
Use these open-ended prompts to guide reflection and conversation. Remember, there are no right answers!
- Here, we find Pindar redefining phrases again. Ernesto says his hot dog cart was voted the City’s best hot dog stand. Pindar corrects: “Best outdoor dining experience in the city.” What does this difference say to you?
- Who do you think the Connector is going to be?
- Why did the words “clout and leverage” mean so much to Joe, specifically? What do you think the author is trying to say by having Joe repeat them over and over?
Rising Tide Input for your Consideration
- Part of giving is making people feel important. Ernesto’s real differentiator isn’t cuisine: it’s care. People remember how the place treated them more than what they ate.
- Give for the love of the game. Value isn’t a gimmick. When generosity is authentic (and bounded), quality compounds.
- The narrative keeps checking Joe’s assumptions (e.g., not realizing the chef is the owner). How do you feel about the point: perhaps value often hides in plain sight?
- Clout vs. leverage. Clout seeks recognition; leverage seeks outcomes. Joe wants both, but this chapter hints that trust is the real currency.
About Rising Tide and our Book Club
Rising Tide helps MSPs and service-focused teams build better systems: the kind that align people with purpose. Every Friday at 9:30 AM ET, we host Rising Tide Fridays as an open conversation for MSP owners, consultants, and service professionals who want to grow both professionally, technically, and emotionally. In Fall/Winter 2025, we’re walking through The Go-Giver, chapter by chapter. If that sounds like your kind of crowd, reach out to partners@risingtidegroup.net for the Teams link. Bring your coffee and curiosity…no prep required.