Fact vs Opinion, Make the Difference

Dear lovely people,

According to Webster's Dictionary, a fact is "anything that is done or happens; anything actually existent; any statement strictly true; truth; reality." So I consider a statement such as “my daughter had a temperature of 50 degrees this morning.” To be a fact.

Whereas an opinion is defined as "indicating a belief, view, sentiment, conception." Where in you find descriptive words such as "Generally, it is thought”, "I believe that", etc. in which case, the same statement above becomes an opinion if a belief or view is added to it: “I couldn’t go to work because my daughter had a temperature of 50 degrees this morning.”

Sometimes it is challenging to tell the facts and opinions apart. For example, "Barack Obama is the living most eloquent orator of all Presidents the world over." This is an opinion, but you have to know that eloquent is a descriptive word for this to become clear. Descriptive words are subjective, or state someone's opinion.

Treading the slippery paths to success requires that you fully understand this difference and not confuse them. Confusing them can constitute a major source of discouragement and self-demotivation for example: It’s a fact that many people who set out to achieve success in life, never attain it but it’s only your opinion that you fall amongst the people who never attain success. If you hold strong to such a belief, you can find yourself resisting to do the things you need to do to succeed.

It was different in the case of Ngollibe, it was an established fact that she was underperforming at her job as Senior Projects Manger but it was only her Supervisor’s opinion that Ngollibe will never become a good manager. Her supervisor would make a mockery of her even during corporate meetings to the point that many other colleagues started seeing Ngollibe through that lens of incompetence. Ngollibe however, did not subscribe neither to this poor rating nor to her supervisor’s opinion. Deep down in her, she knew she could learn fast and correct course. She knew it will not be easy but she had the confidence that she could turn the tides to her favor and so she took her destiny into her hands. Eight years later, Ngollibe was named the company’s CEO.

When you can clearly establish the difference between a fact and an opinion, many other things permitting you to walk the path to success becomes visible and at your fingertips.