1 of 30: 30 Things I Learned in 30 Years
There are varying opinions on sharing (or not sharing) what you know.
There are some who advise not sharing, saying that:
"I worked so hard to get to where I am now,
why would I just give out what I learned in years?"
or
"If everyone else knew what I knew, I'll be dispensable."
There are probably a multitude of other reasons, but I always hear those two.
I think that it's a load of b*ll cr*p. But I didn't always think that way.
At one point in time, I prided in being part of the "cream of the crop". I felt gloat-y when I passed university entrance exams, and my board exams, and other professional licenses that don't seem to have any real value now. I felt like I'm all that. I felt a malicious satisfaction in knowing, even if it's just in my head, that I'm better than a lot of other people.
Just reading those statements make me cringe. Nakakahiya.
Things changed when I watched a debate in the Senate one time. I thought: these people are so smart, why isn't our country progressing? Our politicians are graduates of the top universities in the Philippines. Many of them even graduated with honors.
From that moment, it became clear to me that our country will not prosper if it is run by only a few "smart" people. A few is not enough. We will grow only if almost everyone of us Filipinos is as smart, as talented, and as passionate.
This is true even for companies and organizations. A company won't grow if it only had a few select good people. It needs everyone of its employees to be awesome.
An example would be this:
If there was only one good doctor, there wouldn't be that huge a leap in the practice of medicine considering s/he can only specialize in so much and can only attend to several patients.
Keeping knowledge to ourselves marks the end of growth for all of us.
Because of that realization, I've learned to share what I know. I believe all of us should. The funny thing is, now, I realize how little I know. And I am thankful for everyone who shared their knowledge with me. I will be forever grateful.
Very well said, Rae. We can't really be successful unless we help someone be successful himself. It's not how great we are, but how willing we are to contribute to the greatness in others is what really counts in life.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean with all the academic accomplishments. I also experienced them all. (I just don't want to mention here, sabi mo nga "nakakahiya") Yet all those I consider dung when I found out what really matters.
And, oh, another thing, about being dispensable, if one is indispensable then how is he going to be promoted? :) It's actually biblical to pass on knowledge to an apprentice (2 Timothy 2:2). The Bible calls its Discipleship.
Thank you for this wonderful post!
Very good point!
ReplyDeleteI also agree about knowledge sharing. Kasi, kung lahat tayo maramot sa knowledge, wala na rin tayong matutunang bago sa iba.
ReplyDeleteAnd more than the knowledge, I also would like to emphasize sharing not just what we learned but also how we were able to get those learning.