Looking at the World with a Different Set of Eyes

Education is a very unique concoction that includes classroom and real world learnings driven by a higher purpose. If any of these elements are not in balance, true education remains incomplete.

The classroom can provide focused learning within specific frameworks and provides the basic building blocks to pursue a profession, business or vacation.

However, real world experience sheds light on pragmatism and execution.

Both forms of Education are redundant unless they are employed towards a higher purpose I.e. solving societal problems. In general, humility and the ability to empathize with a fellow human is needed to turn education into an instrument of progress. In some cases, arrogance has rewarded individuals but in most cases, it has resulted in burnt bridges. There is a saying nice guys finish last. That could be true but that is because humble leaders attempt to take everyone with them. They feel the pain of every employee but also create a dream, teach employees to aspire for that dream and then empower them to work on the dream until the very end.

A dreamer with an execution capability is rare but not impossible.

There is a classic friction between say a freshly minted manager with an MBA and employees with greater on the job experience. The solution is looking at things with a different perspective. While an MBA can move away from brass tacks and analyze strategy, the employee with more on the job experience can verify the soundness of the strategy. But, in order to begin this partnership, each individual has to appreciate the others perspective.

Perspective comes in many forms. A finance professional could do well to understand a marketeers perspective. A designer could do well to understand the world of an engineer. The left could do well by understanding the right. A son could do well by understanding his father. Companies as a whole could do well simply by understanding their clients pain points.

While it is easier said than done, true empathy lies in listening, imbibing pain and giving everyone a chance to meet midway. But, without looking at the world through others eyes, there is no point listening.

The most powerful learnings can come from your own colleagues at work, your family, friends and other acquaintances provided you are willing to see the world as they see it.

My biggest learnings have come from my cohorts. When I try to learn their language, customs and traditions, they almost always smile and welcome me into their hearts. The more hearts I win, the more I understand the world.

If everyone is blind seeking the truth in this world, a complete vision can only emerge by piecing together others perspective.

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