Beyond Thought
By Les Mottosky
Leading businesses hire expertise, while dedicating time, leadership energy and big bucks to reveal, communicate and protect what makes them unique. Without this understanding they flounder in a competitive sea of sameness; just another business amongst a horde of just some other businesses.
As humans, a similar challenge plagues us. It begins as a teenager. After years of quietly idolizing our parents, we begin the process of individuation. We start pushing back against Ma and Pa's influence; acting on all kinds of urges we feel will prove our emerging adulthood and differentiate us from them. These two actions look similar, but they differ by intention and origin.
Businesses differentiate as a matter of strategy. Humans: as natural, adolescent impulse.
But what does this impulse want from us? Where does it want us to grow? And is the thing that makes us unique, the same thing that makes us essential?
Evolutionary biologists and psychologists explain individuation as parent-offspring conflict driven by genetic self-interest: offspring push for more independence. This reduces costly dependency and sets the stage for reproduction.
But could it be more than that?
There are several traits that differentiate humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. Self-awareness, boundless creativity, sexuality as a vessel for self-development and wisdom top the list. (These opposable thumbs turn-out to be really handy, too.)
Those 4 attributes share an intriguing suggestion: does life – our own lives – want us to discover, learn and push our personal limits?
Simplifying this observation even further: does that question work as a functional definition for wisdom?
Maybe.
We're taught from a young age that wisdom is a form of specialized knowledge earned over time. A resource exclusive to elders.
But is this even true?
A popular thought experiment asks: "If children were given the responsibility of the most consequential decision a government makes, would war even be a thing?" The inevitable conclusion is "Absolutely not."
This is an expression of wisdom. But politicians – those "adults" we "trust" to "lead" us – don't seem to be able to tap into it. So wisdom can't only be an inevitable consequence of aging; in fact, it appears to be much more widely distributed than that.
Before going further let's define wisdom. Greeks saw wisdom as sophia (theoretical: understanding universal truths) and phronesis (practical: good judgment in action). This inspired Socrates to simplify and personalize it as, knowing your ignorance.
The combination of sophia and phronesis – universal truths inspiring good judgment in action – appears to be abundant in children. (This definition also hits as 'common sense adjacent'). Then – as age, influence and power increase – wisdom scarce-ifies. This is where Socrates' definition feels more practical and attainable.
More than understanding what makes us unique or special as an individual, wisdom – knowing our own ignorance – is the thing that really has us stand out.
If someone goes all-in on their own unique attributes, but fails to govern those by ignoring what they know they don't know, they'll inevitably self-destruct. Same with a business.
So as social creatures contributing to our culture, perhaps the most meaningful way we can do this is to take a page from Socrates and cultivate the knowledge of our limits - then push on them.
Such an act reminds us of our need for others, the value of participation, the glue of vulnerability, the essential gift of other people's specialization and the necessity for growth.
This orientation makes us indispensable. At home and at work. Not by focusing on what differentiates us, but by exemplifying what it is to be fully human.
To be fully you.
And that will always be in high demand.
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Les Mottosky
Adaptation Strategist // I help organizations turn creativity into their competitive advantage by aligning leadership, culture and strategy to unlock adaptive innovations.
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-mottosky-9b94527/
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