The problem with Authority is that you need experience to have it.
The problem with experience is that it comes from the past.
And the problem with the past is that, well… it’s in the past.
Listening to Authority is a good way to realize what you should do. But it’s not the only way, and it’s not the best either. There’s a lot of authority in governments, Wall Street and education. And a lot of mistakes too.
Sometimes first-timers and outsiders have the advantage. Never underestimate the power of ignorance. It lets you wonder, question and defy.
Good advice is not good because of the source. It’s good advice because it’s…… good.
Update! Here’s my interview with Jun Loayza, get a good laugh at my english, but don’t you tell me that you wouldn’t love to speak english like Jun and me.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
The Curse of Knowledge plagues us all. Knowing too much is often a problem.
As Oscar Wilde would say, ignorance is a delicate fruit, that once you even touch it, it’s lost. We always have to be a little ignorant.
Concise yet extremely powerful post Carlos. It kind of reminds me of disruptive innovation (most things do) in that when a system becomes too complex a simpler one is bound to emerge and be just as beneficial. Often the path to the simpler solution is paved by outsiders with very little if any experience but always with great vision.
(I still don’t see much sense though in someone whose idea of being an entrepreneur is to tell others and show others how to be an entrepreneur.)
What a great concept. I never heard of disruptive innovation before, but it’s so true. It also makes me think that sometimes authority comes with complexity, which is more often than not, a bad thing for solving problems and giving advice.
By the way, I absolutely agree with you. I don’t think authority is always a bad thing, and what you say about entrepreneurship I believe it to be right. It’s like a virgin teaching someone how to have sex. But for example, should we listen to the older people on how to live our lives? I don’t think so, authority doesn’t apply there.
Very true. I think this is one of the reasons why we have so many young entrepreneurs these days… they don’t have enough experience to realize what they don’t know, or to fear all the things that can go wrong; so they just do what they FEEL is right, while most people are following established rules and norms. Going with intuition (and passion) often works out quite nicely in business.
It’s the Wayne Gretsky thing: don’t skate to where the puck IS, skate to where it is going to be.
What a great quote (works with a lot of sports too!), and what a great way of living. It involves fear and risks, but the reward is much better, don’t you think?
I agree that passion and intuition is a good way to measure success. Sometimes it’s not the idea, but the people behind it. A passionate convinced person can make things happen.
I enjoyed this post b/c it reminds me of myself so much. I think people put too much stock in “knowing” or being an expert. I don’t see how being an expert can be interesting after a while because you develop blinders – you get set in your ways.
I think it’s better to ask more questions than to have more answers.
Tell me Raven if this happens to you, since I believe we’re similar on this: Knowing is boring. Once you know too much, it loses the excitement. Asking and learning is much more appealing, at least when you’re trying to improve yourself. Most people with authority that I know have plateaued when it comes to learning.
I believe I wrote a post on a similar topic – on the merits on exiting at the top of your game: http://tiny.cc/Vv70E
Essentially, I expand on what you are talking about: You can’t always top yourself, learn to walk away and a mystery is good
Just read it, and it’s one of your best posts ever. Incredibly insightful Raven, I agree completely.
I agree that authority is not always a good thing, and that we shouldn’t depend solely on those with “experience” to provide insight and information. However, ignorance is something we have to be very careful about, because it’s often ignorance that fuels hatred. So, while it’s good to form your own opinion, to question the opinions of others, and to approach things with an open mind, ignorance should not be used as an excuse for negativity. Great post, Carlos, very thought-provoking!
Loved this reply from you Sam, and it’s true. Ignorance does fuel hatred, and I’m not trying to encourage it. Not in that way at least. It’s the asking part I’m interested in.
I don’t think experience should be discounted (and I’m not saying you’re doing that here). Experience is earned, so it should be valued and appreciated – but we shouldn’t base authority solely on experience and tenure. Some of the biggest innovators and entrepreneurs haven’t had the experience to back their ideas up, no gold watch or sexy business title, they are where they are based on ingenuity, personal motivation, and hard work. It’s these people, these inspirers and outside-the-box thinkers that earn my respect and are given ‘authority’.
Great comment Matt, experience is important, but as you well put it, sometimes the outside-the-box thinkers are the ones without it. Things like ingenuity, motivation and hard work are often as powerful as experience when it comes to success.