The Expert Generation
Humility and a willingness to learn are the cornerstones of personal growth. Lack of humility and unwillingness to possess a teachable attitude will inhibit a person’s capability. This is expanding throughout American culture and has become highly visible. Now we are seeing people becoming self proclaimed experts. Many of these “experts” who credit themselves in a much higher esteem with lack of credential is a concerning. The rise of social media and the internet has made it easier for individuals to surround themselves with like-minded individuals and ideas, creating a self-reinforcing echo chamber. They become master’s of their own world. The ease and availability of fanning out content to the masses with no vetting process of public or expert opinion being taken into account. You see before, in order to be recognized for being an expert, you had to actually be an expert. And to be an expert, required years of immersion in your field. Trying, failing, succeeding, and then getting the organic recognition because others are intaking and implementing value from your wisdom. Otherwise you would receive no book deal, or media attention, or attraction to your work.
We are bombarded with product ads attempting to fast track progress to proliferation, however many talents take years to cultivate and achieve expertness. The power of discovery along the way, coupled with the process in the human mind’s absorption of knowledge, is something that cannot and should not be sped up. Otherwise great lessons and natural progression becomes diminished. Would you want to fly transatlantic with pilots who only took an accelerated flight training program? Exactly.
I was inspired to write this blog from a tweet I sent years ago:
This phenomenon has led to a sense of false expertise amongst a sizeable portion of the population who may lack real-world experience but are confident in their opinions because of the validation they receive from others in their circle, etc. The internet allows you full discretion over the communities and content you’re exposed to. Mix that with the tailor fit algorithms that supply content around your interests on the daily. This lack of humility and openness in learning from others can have negative consequences, both for the individual and for society as a whole.
One of the dangers of this attitude is that it can lead to a reluctance to consider alternative viewpoints or to question one’s own beliefs. This can lead to a narrow-mindedness that can hinder personal growth and the ability to learn from others. It can also contribute to a lack of critical thinking and an inability to evaluate information objectively. It doesn’t help that our technology is incubating this behavior.
Social media curates a dangerous misconception of the way the world is. When you go to your favorite self re enforcing bubbles, you are just hearing your own views replicated and expanded on, which is polarizing. This drives people to more extreme views and consecrates their desire to remain the same, not seeking the pursuit of learning and knowledge (this should be constant, a continual journey until your last breath).
Seeing the same message that you support doesn’t challenge you to think differently and contrast your opinion for growth. It’s like what Frank Zappa said “I’m motivated by the things I hate just as much as the things I love”. Frank’s distain for certain types of music, motivated him.
I once had a client who ran a very successful construction company. He had been business for 30+ years and was looking to slow down and taper back his involvement in the day to day field operations. He arranged a meeting with myself and his 27 year old nephew to discuss future structure of operations. He express that he wanted his nephew to work in the field to gain knowledge and understanding of the business for the ground level so he could later run the company and eventually take over. His nephew rebuffed and explained that he had 6 months experience as an assistant manager at an In-N-Out so obviously he was well qualified to skip his uncle’s proposition and move straight to “telling people what to do”. What a show, lacking work ethic and unnecessary elevated sense of qualifications. You get to be the guy who tells people what to do when 1) You created the business 2) Took the risk to build it 3) Bought the company 4) of Acquried and proved the skills to drive the operation. His nephew displayed such an entitled attitude and I subsequently advised my client in a different direction. I can’t help but think how much personal growth the nephew will miss out on if he goes through life thinking he’s qualified instead of asking “What can I do? How can I learn?”
A lack of humility and a teachable attitude can be detrimental in professional settings. In many industries, experience is highly valued, and those who are unwilling to learn from more experienced colleagues may struggle to succeed. An overconfident attitude can lead to mistakes and poor decision-making, as individuals may be more likely to dismiss advice or feedback from others.
Losing a teachable willingness at any time in life creates an atmosphere which doesn’t allow for maturity in thought and openness to learn new things. To combat this, individuals should strive to remain open-minded and willing to learn from others, regardless of their level of experience or expertise. Only then can we create a society that values humility, collaboration, and continuous learning. There is a power in uncomfortability, it prompts us for graduated seeking.
Cynicism appears to move in lockstep with heavy pridefulness. Cynicism is one of the most dangerous behavior in many ways, most notably at destroying intellectual bravery. Which is necessary in a society or business that innovates. When a company’s culture loses its intellectual bravery, it loses its footing, stifling innovation, and rooting bad culture (good talent leaves). This rots out the company.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people overestimate their abilities and competence in a particular area. This effect is often seen in individuals who lack the necessary skills or experience to perform a task but are unaware of their shortcomings. Instead, they may believe that they are experts in the field and behave accordingly, despite evidence to the contrary.
This effect can have serious consequences in various aspects of life, from personal relationships to professional environments. In some cases, people may make decisions or take actions based on their perceived expertise, leading to negative outcomes for themselves and others. One of the main reasons for the Dunning-Kruger effect is a lack of self-awareness. People who lack experience or skill in a particular area may not fully understand the extent of their limitations. Instead, they may believe that they have a complete understanding of the topic and are highly competent, leading to a false sense of confidence.
In addition, it can be exacerbated by social factors such as groupthink which leads to polarization. When people are surrounded by others who share similar beliefs or opinions, they may be less likely to question their own knowledge and skills. This can lead to a reinforcing feedback loop, where individuals become increasingly confident in their abilities despite their lack of expertise.
To counteract this, it is important to cultivate self-awareness and a willingness to learn from others. This means recognizing one’s own limitations and seeking out feedback and guidance from more experienced individuals. It involves being open to alternative viewpoints and being willing to admit when one is wrong. Then learning from this.
Without humility and the constant pursuit of knowledge both to reinforce, amend, and gain new beliefs; I often wonder what new discoveries or insights the world being deprived of?
