Leadership Thought #229 – The Pursuit Of Knowledge Offers Big Advantages In Life
Knowledge is one of the biggest advantages you can have in life. If you know something and other people don’t, then there is automatically a need for your informed opinion. It is the ultimate equalizer because it has nothing to do with age, gender, or race. Some people may begin life with a genetic head start or environmental advantages; however, unless they keep learning, it is likely that someone else will pass them by. Just look at how quickly certain careers or businesses are being propelled forward because they know more about technology than their more life-experienced and better-educated peers.
Knowledge doesn’t just mean being book smart, although this is often an important variable and shouldn’t be downplayed. It becomes wisdom when it is complemented with life experience and cultivated by a keen interest and/or passion in something. It involves both breadth and depth. There is no such thing as a one-dimensional expert. You must want to learn, make the concerted effort to get smarter, practice what you know, learn through trial and error, and be open to alternative points of view. Ideologues are a hindrance to the development of knowledge and wisdom because they rarely change their opinion, disdain venturing outside their intellectual and emotional comfort zones, and only pay attention to anecdotal evidence that is self-validating. Are you moving toward becoming an ideologue or an expert (it does matter)?
Just because you are deeply concerned about a topic or speak passionately during discussions doesn’t necessarily indicate that you understand it. In fact, I advise you to be wary of people who are too in love with their opinions and stifle the input of others. They are often overcompensating for various psychological and social reasons (too vast a discussion for this blog). The truth is that knowledge takes work, and you are never done working. You will never know everything, and when you get close, something will change and shake up your thought process.
The wonderful thing about the pursuit of knowledge is that it can be an extremely rewarding journey. You get to broaden your perspective and better see the world for all its mystery and wonder. You begin to see patterns emerge and more fully appreciate the interconnectedness of things. You get a chance to make a real difference in areas of your personal and professional life that truly matter to you. You enhance your own capacity to handle whatever challenges are strewn in your path of accomplishment. You minimize excuses and maximize options. Life gets easier, not more difficult.
Related articles
- A key everybody misses (thinkandsucceednow.wordpress.com)
- The Wisdom To Know (mediumsworld.wordpress.com)
- Where is Wisdom? (jantzika.wordpress.com)
- When your ego stops you from learning …… (despicablewonderfulyou.wordpress.com)
- Wisdom by Jerry Johnson (jerrysgoldenuggets.wordpress.com)
