46. It Depends

We say it all the time - “it depends.” This is both the best and worst response to any form of inquiry.

It’s the best response because it’s true. When it comes to work at least, there is no such thing as a universal truth. The context always dictates what is ideal.

It’s the worst response because people tend to hide behind it. They claim that “it depends” but don’t dive deeper.

The response, “it depends,” has potential, but it requires work to be a high-quality response.

The next step is defining the most relevant contextual variables that might determine why or when something is ideal. From there, probabilities can be debated and worst-case scenarios can be fleshed out.

Don’t stop at “it depends.” Keep going.