My dad needed his flat roof rebuilt to better drain the rain. He had an idea of how that might be done (like all men who know how to makes things out of wood as long as they are essentially boxes) but called in a few local builders for estimates.

The first one suggested a solution that didn’t match dad’s expectation, so he didn’t like it.

The second one suggested the same solution as the first one, so - again - dad wasn’t a fan.

The third and fourth builders unknowingly agreed with the previous builders… and proved just as unpopular with my dad.

The fifth builder, however, offered up the solution my dad had been expecting all along, so he went with him.

It would make my story WAY better if I could now tell you that the roof had caved in, but that would be a lie (at least at the time of writing; I guess there’s still time).

I’ve written many times about the perils of ignoring expert advice. This is somehow worse. It’s asking for expert advice, but then only treating someone as a ‘true’ expert when they agree with your non-expert expectation.

If four doctors told you the blue tablet would kill you (but you like the colour blue) would you then take the blue tablet if a fifth doctor told you that he also likes the colour blue and that you’ll be fine?

To summarise. Don’t have flat roofs or take blue tablets or look for validation from experts (I’m just like the bible aren’t I).