I am a child of the 70s (and, by the way, feeling prouder of that fact by the day).
I was raised on the best street ever.
Sesame Street.
Every episode of Sesame Street focused on “the letter of the day” and “the number of the day”.
Modeling today’s TPF on that ever-successful concept of doling out information one bite-sized morsel at a time, I give to you, my adaptation of their brilliance: “The Question of the Day.”
The Question of the Day is:
“Do I want to be right, or do I want to be productive?”
…or “Do I want to be right, or do I want to be peaceful?
(Whichever version speaks to you today.)
It’s a deceptively simple question, really. But it is a surprisingly expensive one to ignore.
Being right feels good in the moment. But progress? Peace? Those are compounding ingredients that eventually create Cookie Monster-sized victories.
Strong leaders, and grounded humans in general, learn to pause in the tension and ask what the moment actually requires, not what their ego prefers.
Sometimes the win isn’t proving your point. It’s about preserving momentum, protecting a relationship, or choosing a calm evening over a needless debate about who technically loaded the dishwasher “wrong”.
At work, it might look like letting go of a minor disagreement to keep a project moving.
At home, it might mean choosing connection over correction.
In everyday life, it’s deciding that not every hill is worth a flag.
Being right can shut down conversation and eventual connection.
Being productive or choosing peace can keep it moving.
Your Friday Action Item:
The next time you feel the urge to “win,” ask yourself:
What outcome actually serves this moment best: progress, peace, or proof?
Do I want to be right, or do I want to be productive (peaceful)?
Then choose that, even if your inner attorney violently objects.
The most effective and peaceful people don’t win arguments.
They win outcomes, and they keep their relationships intact along the way.
(If you need to slow your thought and response time down, pretend you’re Count Von Count and count to 10. It seems to have worked well for him over the past 56 years and counting. 🤣)
