The Hidden Mystery Behind Why I Don't Know a Perfectly Good Answer

Let's say a reporter asks you a question and you don't know the answer. Don't guess. If you guess and you guess wrong in the reporter's mind you lied, it's going to be very hard for you to ever build back your credibility. Don't be afraid. Every so often to say, you simply say I don't know. Now don't stop with that. Don't just say, well, I don't know. Say I don't know. But I'm happy to find out. I'll get back to you by three today, is that okay? Then make sure you find out the information and get back to the reporter. Email it back, call, leave a voicemail, fax if you have to, but make sure you get that information back to the reporter. Now sometimes a reporter may ask you a hypothetical question and nobody's going to know the answer to it. Don't guess. Don't feel like you have to play that game. Instead, just say I don't know. What I do know is, and then bridge to a relevant point. TJ what's going to happen if the sky falls and your media and presentation training business crumble and you go bankrupt? Well, that's a hypothetical question. I don't want to get into a big debate with somebody, a reporter, over that. Instead I would say I don't know about that. What I do know is every single day we create more content, we service our clients even better, and we continue to grow and grow and grow. Now, I didn't technically dodge the question. I simply started it by saying I don't know. And then I bridged to what I do know. That's what you need to do. If you're asked a question that really is unknowable. But if it's a question and you don't know the answer but somebody does, don't blow it off. Tell the reporter you don't know. But then find out the information and get back. But remember, you always have the option of telling a reporter I don't know. There's no shame in it, especially if you don't act ashamed. Just state it in a matter of fact way and you'll be fine.