# Most Analysts are Delusional By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2022-11-08 > [!quote] Quote by [[Alan Watts]] > A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts. So, he loses touch with reality, and lives in a world of illusions. As an analyst, it's easy to get lost in the world of thoughts. After all, analysts are paid to think. Thinking is something we all do naturally, but developing it brings many benefits. You can outsmart competitors, determine what is critical, and find paths to [[success]]. But, as Alan Watts warns, there is a dark side to thinking: the world of thoughts isn't reality. Just as the cost of playing football is brain damage, the cost of being an analyst is losing touch with reality. Endless time spent in the world of thoughts leads one to believe they are smarter than others and have all the answers. As a result, most analysts are delusional. The delusion of analysts is nearly universal, but it is pronounced in organizations. Organizations are composed of many people with different lived experiences. These lived experiences are real. The delusional analyst believes their thoughts are real, and either recommends ridiculous things or completely ignores the opinion of others. They think they are the rational ones - everyone else is delusional. It's common to hear in analysts-only meetings the commiseration of how the rest of the organization just doesn't get it. Well, maybe the analysts don't get it. Yet, collectively the analysts reinforce each other's delusion perspective until the organization stops working with them. I've seen this happen many times to the bewilderment of analysts. Avoiding or breaking free from this delusion is not easy. Thinking is required for the job, however, what one thinks about can drastically alter how one acts. Think beyond the system and the numbers. Think about your purpose and what truth is. You'll likely find reality along the way to the answers. Additionally, spend more time putting thoughts into action. This could be at work or via some hobby such as music or woodworking. The key is to focus on the transition from idea to practicality. Over time, you'll find that the most interesting parts of life exist in those transitions. Understanding the transitions keeps one grounded in reality. Thinking is the analyst's greatest asset, and we need more thinking in today's society. However, we must deploy it with care or risk living increasingly in a world of illusion, removed from our humanity. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Thinking]] [[Overthinking]] [[Reality]]