I recently had a call from a business acquaintance who wanted to discuss a problem he was facing at work. I asked several questions, but it quickly became obvious that he didn’t really want to solve the problem.

My friend had a quiver full of excuses as to why things couldn’t change. It became apparent I was dealing with a classic “fool.” I know that sounds harsh, but it is what it is.

I knew immediately that talking about it any more was a waste of time. I had to change strategies.

In this week’s podcast, I discuss how to tell the difference between the wise and the foolish and why it matters—not only in terms of your effectiveness as a leader but in your success in life.

Click here to listen to the podcast and review the show notes. I’ve also included a complete transcript. Better yet, subscribe to to my e-mail newsletter and get my posts delivered to your inbox.