You Don't Know What You Don't Know

You don't know what you don't know; never was there a truer sentence ever spoken. The question is, knowing we don't know everything, what's the best way to learn more? 

The answer is ironically obvious: look outside. I'm not talking about some existential vantage point, I mean literally, look outside. Step away from your desk and do something, see something, read something or listen to something that has nothing to do with your work. Do something that has nothing to do with what you know.

Most of us stay in our industry to help us be better at what we do. We read our own industry’s trades, we attend our own industry’s conferences, we talk to others from our industry and we take classes offered by "experts" from the inside. Though we may learn bits and pieces this way, we can never learn to innovate and solve problems or think in new ways like this. To truly think differently, we need to look way outside our own industries. If we see and learn how others solve problems, we can adapt and apply the same lessons to our own work. Read about the Cuban missile crisis and we may learn how to get ourselves out of a sticky situation. Watch a documentary about origami and we may learn to see things a little differently. This is where innovation comes from.

Innovation comes from solving ideas like no one else in our industry…but those ideas have to come from somewhere…somewhere outside.

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If you were commenting on a piece, would you discuss what's actually in it, or simply project your own resentments instead..?

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[Lance Lovelady]

Simon

I find this quite interesting and to add a bit of history to this. In the feudal days of Japan the samurai not only were warriors but their mindset and approach was that death was not to be feared and to die honorably and in service to the their lord was the ultimate sacrifice (this is to highlight the different mindset to to everyone else and why they where such fierce fighters)

One of the interesting things that they also cultivated were the arts, they took classes like calligraphy, bonsai cultivation, tea ceremonies, origami, flower arranging and painting. These are all skills they developed on top of their fighting skills to ensure they could become the ultimate fighter and they saw it as fundamental in their development as samurai.

As they did not fear death the made sure they lived for the moment and each part of life was fully appreciated and savored to ensure they lived life according to the Bushido code.

[batt]

Thank you for helping me to see how my own creative perspective can contribute to others. You helped me to clarify why I do what I do.
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[ytc]

I agree with the idea very much. Actually I have been re-thinking about the importance of taking time off and your talk greatly pushed me to take some time off with constructive reason. Cheers from far east.

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You are absolutely right. In it something is and it is excellent idea. I support you.

[Deborah Connolly]

Thank you Simon, this post resonates well with what I try to work on with clients as they transition into different life and career choices. In order to be willing to accept and determine creative solutions to your life's path you absolutely have to learn from different perspectives.

-Deborah Connolly
www.creativeleadershipcoach.com

[Mark Rubin]

New perspectives solve old problems. Old perspectives create new problems.

[Elena Rivera]

It can be difficult to rationalize my position in this world as an artist. Thank you for helping me to see how my own creative perspective can contribute to others. You helped me to clarify why I do what I do.

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and it's one of the reasons I took Creative Writing Poetry class. It exposed me to new ways of brainstorming I would have never thought about before.
And another reason I started my blog, to force me to think more critically about the books I read.

[Kyle]

Great post Simon.
I couldn't agree more, and it's one of the reasons I took Creative Writing Poetry class. It exposed me to new ways of brainstorming I would have never thought about before.
And another reason I started my blog, to force me to think more critically about the books I read.

Thanks

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[Veda Horner]

Thanks Simon

I am learning thanks to you about getting
out of my own way and discovering a world out there besides my own private world.
Ideas are everywhere we just have to LOOK and Experience
Veda

[Mark Horoszowski]

This is a great post - I couldn't agree more. Though I would offer one addition: experience something outside, don't just see it. This year I set off on a Global Volunteering Adventure (www.AspentoNepal.com) and have been continually amazed by life and business lessons inspired by different cultures, economic groups, and socially- and environmentally-responsible businesses. Prior to this trip, I can easily say that I learned more about relationships and leading people by volunteering/experiencing than I ever did in school or at a job. Thanks for another great post, Simon!

[Jeffrey Davis]

Simon:

Right. Get outside. And get outdoors. Really. The shift from walls to no walls, from dimmed sensory stimulation to direct sensory stimulation also rallies those little neurons to do a different dance than the accustomed one behind the desk.

Thanks for your work. (Loved your talk at 99%)

[Kate]

A quick way to learn outside the box is to watch a TED talk (www.ted.com). Clothing from bacteria, anyone?

[Francis]

I love it. Thanks for a the great talk. I completely agree we generate ideas outside the zone, when in shower, bed or not engaged.