Share your tools
As you acquire some modicum of success with your career, it becomes your obligation to share those secrets that you’ve learned. Don’t horde information; share it freely. For example, the ancient martial art of Tai Chi is passed from teacher to student. In time, the student becomes the teacher and passes on his or her knowledge to new students. And so this cycle, this yin-yang, continues.
And that is as it should be in all endeavors.
Personally, I’ve learned a great deal from teachers, mentors, peers, research, trials, and errors. I owe them a great debt. And there is only one way to repay it. I feel it is my obligation to return the favor, if not directtly to those who helped, at least to others who can benefit from my assistance.
This debt that I owe (indeed we all owe it eventually) is the primary reason I write (books and blogs) and teach. I want to help others avoid the anguish that often comes from attending the school of hard knocks. And although there is no substitute for earning your experiences this way, your career journey can be more fruitful (and less costly) with a little guidance.
There are some characteristics of book writing and teaching that are the same. There are major differences, too. No matter how empathetic I try to be, book writing is somewhat dictatorial. It’s a lecture, a one-way conversation. That’s what makes this blog so potentially exciting for me – it’s more of a conversation! Your comments can really drive the direction of this blog and make it better and more meaningful to everyone.
Teaching can also be one-sided, but what I’ve found is it works best — students learn more — when there is interaction and personalization. Sure, I’ve prepared material for my classes, but I’m eager to explore other terrain if that is what the students want and need. I frequently go off the page to accommodate their requests. I also provide a stimulating environment in which to work by assigning projects with somewhat loose guidelines and leaving it up to them to accomplish the task with the content and approach that works for them. They learn by doing with my input and guidance. Ultimately, they get to explore their voice and pursue the material and themes that are meaningful to them. Often I’m pleasantly surprised; occasionally shocked, but rarely disappointed.
Therefore, never be afraid to ask the right questions of those people who are already along the path. You can and should benefit from the road already taken. But once you are further along your own journey, be sure to reach back and offer a helping hand to those who follow you. If you can make just another person’s journey easier, that’s good. And so that is something we all must all strive to do.
