We each came into this world knowing nothing. We were essentially a “blank canvas”. As we evolved from being babies to toddlers to fully-fledged children to adults through our life’s course (education, experiences, interactions with the world) we amassed a wide and deep knowledge of the world around us. This knowledge base and skill set is what defines us as an individual – it is in fact our unique gift to the world.
I grew-up in a teaching family – both Mum and Dad were phenomenal teachers, where there was always plenty of chatter going-on between Mum, Dad, my brother and myself. Chatter about…well everything and sundry. We each had opinions gathered through our senses, and we each were only too willing to share these opinions with each other and the world at large. The greatest gift that Mum and Dad gave my brother and I was the encouragement to learn – and to keep learning – and then to share our knowledge.
There are people in life who generally/ mostly “take” from life, and then there are those who generally/ mostly “give” to life. This will always be the case, infinitum. The greatest sense of living my life to its fullest extent has been when I have been “giving” to life. Over the years I’ve generated and provided to others that much unique intellectual property that I’ve lost track of the detail of some elements of this IP. And each piece of IP that I’ve brought into (given to) the world I’ve received a considerable sense of pride building and launching.
During my time in senior management roles to date, I believe that the main reason why I was able to influence the range of hearts and minds that I have was simply being open and being willing to share/ communicate what I know – my knowledge, my skills…my life’s learnings.
When I leave this planet eventually I’ll have a feeling of having “given my all” to life. There won’t be anything left in the tank. I have some of this feeling already…and it is a good feeling. The feeling of having given.
Knowledge may be power, but with power I believe there comes an inherent responsibility to use power sensibly and responsibly, and wherever possible “share” that power with others so they too have a sense of “winning”.
I’d like to see more leaders around the world be more open in their sharing of their knowledge – to help with the positive transformation and evolution of mankind. At the end of the day the most prized aspects of our lives should/ must be our relationships with the world – with people and other living things that we’re so fortunate to be sharing this planet with.