You do not see the world correctly. The good news is neither does anyone else.

A standard camera lens is built-in to your smartphone. Accessory lenses are now available to zoom or magnify your subject. The software provides a myriad of filters to adjust the final picture, of your breakfast, for distribution to the global media outlets.

My hardware is a 46-year old, white male, short brown hair (with just a bit of gray to emphasize incredible wisdom and humility), and in reasonable health. My filters include husband, father, veteran, program manager, writer, Christian, entrepreneur, meditator, US citizen, recovering creative, record of successes and failures, and a boatload of other filters.

Your hardware and software are different than mine. Not better or worse, just different. Maybe the world could handle two of you, but one of me is sufficient.

I drew this inquiry from a conversation with a friend who asked a straight-forward business plan question, and I struggled to give a straight answer. I was busy applying my filters to qualify the answer.

The inquiry presses to reveal how we apply these lenses and filters to our pending actions, plans, and goals.

As you prepare for the big meeting are you applying the filter that reminds you of that time you blew it and now projects doing it again?

You know you need to change your environment, but applied the filter of not deserving better. After all, your parent stayed through the abuse.

Striving to be the best parent, you forego investing in your health because the action is seen through a filter of selfishness.

Taking the risk to ship your work, stalls because a filter of fear stands between you and execution.

We both have our respective lenses and filters firmly in place. Discussing this inquiry with a confident gives them the tools to ask questions if we are hesitating to take important action. I am grateful for friends that ask the hard questions to ensure I am seeing as clearly as possible.

Lenses and filters can produce a masterpiece if applied properly. The skilled photographer knows when to use the right tool. Since this is your one life and it needs to be fantastic, let's be professionals and ensure our tools are used rightly.