<p>ESSAY PROMPT</p>
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Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below:</p>
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In order to be the most productive and successful people that we are capable of being, we must be willing to ignore the opinions of others. It is only when we are completely indifferent to others' opinions of us--when we are not concerned about how others think of us--that we can achieve our most important goals.
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<p>Assignment: Are people more likely to be productive and successful when they ignore the opinions of others? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
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<p>I do not believe that ignoring the opinions of others intrinsically grants us some mystic, otherwise-unknown ability to succeed. As with most things in life, the utility of others' opinions is not universal; however, it is not universally rubbish, either. Being able to both know when an outside opinion or advice is necessary and have the humility to defer to those more experienced on a matter is the mark of a person bound for success.</p>
<p>I have experience with ignoring the opinions of others. One of the most fundamentally formative events in my life came at the age of eight, as I was reaching the end of the wrestling league's tournament season. For two years, I had always been the smallest, puniest wrestler in my weight class. People became accustomed to seeing me fail. But I decided that this last tournament would be different; I grew tired of failure. I decided to train as hard as I could for a month before the event. Unfortunately, that decision alone was not enough to make the practice possible; I still needed a workout venue!</p>
<p>I begged my wrestling coach to hang around late after practice to let me train more, but he told me that I didn't have a chance. I wasn't fazed though, and I pleaded with my father to buy a wrestling mat so I could practice at home. Eventually, won over by my newfound enthusiasm and dedication, he caved. Three weeks later, to the shock of everyone present but me, I won the end-of-season tournament.</p>
<p>Sometimes, opinions come from those more knowledgeable on a subject and one would be wise to take heed. President Bush's advisors warned him repeatedly about the 'powderkeg' nature of Iraq and the danger of invading without a plan for the post-invasion reconstruction of the country. However, stubborn and headstrong as ever, Bush boldly forged a path of destruction to Baghdad. Four years and two thousand deceased soldiers later, it is clear that some outside opinions should have been taken into account.</p>
<p>To take full advantage of others' opinions, one must neither universally take them into consideration nor universally reject them. Rather, they should be vetted: is the source credible? Is the advice correlating with what others have to say on the matter? Does this advice benefit me? Opinions are a tool, nothing more, but when applied correctly, they can be very useful.</p>
<p>I'll PM you my grade when you post.</p>