By Sandy Glanfield

This week on the Let’s Reboot the Future podcast, Paul Lindley OBE spoke about naivety in a way that felt refreshingly grounded. His message was simple:

If you see a problem and have an idea, start. 

You do not need to know everything. Wisdom arrives as you go.

What struck me most was how deeply this belief connects to relationships. For Paul, relationships are not an optional extra. They are the foundation that helps you move, pivot, grow, and sometimes change course entirely.

He talked about the value of investing in the people around us, even when it is not convenient. I loved hearing about his weekly 7 p.m. calls with his grandmother. A quiet ritual. A relationship tended over time. These are the threads that shape us. They build our reputation. They form the trust and care that we carry into new spaces.

And when we take a step into something unknown, relationships help us navigate.
They are people who reflect back what they see.
People who suggest a change in direction.
People who lend experience we don’t yet have.
People who simply hold us steady when we doubt ourselves.

Paul reminded us that sometimes the advice we receive isn’t right, and we have to trust our gut. Yet even then, the relationships around us help us learn what to keep and what to let go. They are part of the compass that guides us.

It made me wonder:

How might we stay open to learning from the people around us, even when their perspectives feel different from our own?

This feels closely linked to the Golden Rule:
Treat others and the planet as you wish to be treated.
Building relationships with care, curiosity, and generosity strengthens the networks that support us, and invites us to support others in return. It creates a shared movement toward change.

So if you have an idea tugging at your sleeve, I think that Paul would say:

Start where you are.
Learn as you go.
Let your relationships help you find your way.

Think of one relationship in your life that has helped you move, pivot, or see something differently.