I'm no scientist. I don't have the lab, the PhD, or the requisite impressive array of pens prominently displayed in my breast pocket. But like a good many laypeople, I know enough about the Scientific Method to know that ideas are held to be true until they are falsified. And that it's by disproving bad ideas that the whole body of knowledge within a field advances. 

This week, I'd like to ask you a simple question. Your ability to answer it may be telling for you, and may impact upon your continued relevance: Do you know which ideas in your industry have been falsified? In fact, perhaps that is too general. Let's be more specific: What is the last idea within your industry that was proven wrong? Can you name it?

If you have been reading the literature pertaining to your world, and following the evolution of the new ideas like an expert, you should be able to answer this question, even if it does take a little mulling. 

Bad ideas make for short careers. People who champion ideas that have already been disproven may disqualify themselves as experts. Keep yourself up to date, to the extent that you know what isn't true anymore, and you will position yourself to own your industry. 

Douglas Kruger is a professional speaker and business author with Penguin. Book him as the motivational speaker for your next event via www.douglaskruger.com