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Monday, 20 October, 2008#

Are You an Expert?

I once asked this question during one of my training seminars: "Who wants to have the mind of an expert?”

Everyone in the hall raised their hands.

Do you wonder why I was asking an irrelevant question?

Do you think of course everyone should want to think like an expert, so why should I even ask?

Most people assume that success is synonymous with being an expert. If this would be the case, then anyone who is an expert should automatically be successful?

We all know that this is not the case, in fact most experts find themselves analysing to the point of paralysis. It stops them from moving forward, from taking risk, or from being open to new ideas like those coming from a beginner's mind. The expert tends to reject ideas easily if they do not conform or agree with their ‘expert’ mindset. This is one of the major reasons many experts of the past failed to recognise the great minds and great innovations of today.

Let me give you one example:

"Smith the founder of FEDEX attended high school at Memphis University School. In 1962, Smith entered Yale University. While attending Yale, he wrote a paper for an economics class, outlining overnight delivery service in a computer information age. Folklore his professor suggests he received a “C” grade for his paper.

The paper became the idea for FedEx (for years, the sample package displayed in the company's print advertisements featured a return address at Yale).”

Source: Wikipedia

I went on to ask my second question: "Who wants to have a beginner's mind?"

No one raised their hands.

I realised, at that moment, what a hindrance this could possibly be and how it could prevent people from further learning.

The major reason people are afraid of taking risk is because of the fear of making mistakes. This is not what is expected of an expert.

Smith had a beginner's mind when he wrote that paper for his economic class, while his professor in his ‘expert opinion’ thought that such a proposition would not work. The beginner's mind is the root of all great innovations. It is empty, open to learning, and open to taking on impossibilities and making them reality. The beginner's mind has a humble approach to life and work. It will not hurt to think like a beginner or have a beginner's mind. It is always better to be reminded of things even if you happen to know about them already... Why say "I know", when you can say "I do not know" for a change? You will see how fast you can learn things that you thought you already knew!

Besides, the experts are always in a state of anxiety… because they cannot make mistakes... they are the experts after all... they will be hanged if they make mistakes... but who would hang a beginner if they made mistakes?... he is just a beginner, so excuse him...

So my advice is to always be a humble beginner and have that peace of mind and openness to everything in life. Please take a moment to ponder this...


Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark

Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

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Monday, October 20, 2008 7:12:14 AM UTC #    Comments [0]  |  Trackback

 

QuestNet Mr Joseph Bismark

Profile

When Joseph 'Japadas' Bismark became the Group Managing Director of multimillion-dollar global conglomerate QI Group of Companies in December 2008, the face of the organisation that he co-founded a decade ago began to change immediately. His role of Executive Chairman of QI Group's subsidiary QuestNet also took on new life.

Even as Mr Bismark took over the mantle from his partner, he had already established a firm channel of communication with employees of the organisation and thousands of entrepreneurial aspirants through his popular Gem of Wisdom (GOW) series.

A firm believer in the power of teamwork, he has repeatedly stated, "I am only as good as my team".

A man of immense spiritual character and inspiration to his family, friends and business partners worldwide, Mr Bismark's leadership style is as unique as the man himself. His views and actions serve as a constant reminder that success is not just built on material achievements, but also on spiritual growth, inner satisfaction and peace, which we acquire through meaningful service to others. His musings on this Gems of Wisdom blog help ensure that employees and customers of the company never lose focus of the fundamental values on which the QI Group was built.


What are the Gems of Wisdom?

"Welcome to the blog of the Gem of Wisdom (GOW) series. This is the place where I am able to share my thoughts and reflections on life with all of you. My treasured employees within the QI Group have long been privy to these Gems through an internal QuestNet company email I send out a few times a week, as well as through the QI Group intranet. As many of the email and intranet's readers have shared the GOW with their friends and associates outside of the company, I have had more and more requests to make my little Gems available to a wider audience.

It seems there are many people out there who want to take a more proactive approach in analysing the world around them and their place within that world, both literally and spiritually. And so, here I am, entering the online universe in a humble attempt to spread a bit of what my own life experiences have taught me through these Gems of Wisdom. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them; such is the joy of sharing. Please join me in not only sharing my thoughts, but in sharing your own thoughts, comments, feedback, and even your own Gems of Wisdom, with me."

-- Joseph Bismark

Gems for All

True to that philosophy, Mr Bismark has empowered his team to give a voice to the changes they seek, helping him to lead the organisation into a new decade of excellence. Gems of Wisdom is that voice through which even the most junior employees of the group are able to take part in the evolution of the company and share their personal thoughts. By turning his Gem of Wisdom series into the Gems of Wisdom blog, Mr Bismark has opened that channel to everyone.















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