Knowing that you don’t know everything is the first step toward learning.
I’m infatuated with the truth of NOT knowing. I used to think I knew it all. If I didn’t know I’d pretend I did. I’d posture as though I did. I’d talk over anyone who doubted or debated. I refused to admit that I didn’t know something. It was all about being right. It was all about my ego.
Then a few years back I realized there is nothing wrong with NOT knowing. There is nothing wrong with not having the answer. In fact, if you can admit that you don’t know something, chances are you’ll learn something really amazing.
So, I got really comfortable ASKING QUESTIONS and EXPLORING. I set my ego aside and opened my mind to new ideas. With that choice, I began a lifelong quest to LEARN every day. Through study, talking to experts, and getting comfortable admitting when I didn’t know something I began to learn things I’d never even considered before. And the more I learned, the more I WANTED to learn. It was like my appetite to learn had suddenly been put into overdrive and I couldn’t learn fast enough.
Knowing you DON’T know is actually the best thing TO KNOW! Once you can admit that, the world becomes an amazing experience of learning and growing. Stop trying to be the loudest fucker in the room and start listening to the people around you. I promise you’ll be amazed at what you can learn in a single conversation if you’ll just shut the fuck up and LISTEN.
