AN OVERLOOKED EDGE: WISDOM
A short letter on cultivating the skill of leaders
Dear Daughters,
You’ve heard of Michael Phelps, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He was dedicated to his craft and disciplined. He also had an edge - his inseam was a mere 30 inches on his six-foot-four frame and his chest size was unusually large, helping him tackle the water more efficiently than his competitors.
Michael was born with an edge and adeptly applied it to swimming.
However, there’s another kind of edge you don’t have to be born with; an edge you can cultivate to live a full and satisfying life. It’s an edge that’s overlooked because its not a skill we’re taught in school nor something society seems to value that much these days.
I’m referring to wisdom. If applied, wisdom can help you navigate life with a remarkable edge.
Wisdom is a combination of book smarts, street smarts, intuition, unrelenting curiosity for truth, drive, self-awareness and compassion all mixed together and practically applied to life’s challenges.
Having wisdom goes beyond being academically smart and knowing lots of information (otherwise, Google would be wise). It also goes beyond reading philosophy, history, psychology or divinity as part of a school curriculum or as a hobby.
Charlie Munger, who passed away recently, was a self-professed lover of wisdom. It was the wisdom he applied to business and life decisions that made him one of the best investors, and mentors, that ever lived.
So passionate about wisdom was he, that he saw it not just as a way to advance in life, but as a moral duty as a human.
So, you’re now probably thinking, how can I get more of this wisdom stuff?
Well, navigating life itself - especially when you push through comfort zones - will undoubtedly grow your wisdom. Expressing compassion for yourself and others will, too. But something you can do right now to grow your wisdom is to read.
Reading books is a form of truth-seeking - specifically biographies. Pick up and devour everything you can on the likes of Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Oprah Winfrey, Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou and Teddy Roosevelt.
Read all you can. Then read some more.
As you do this, you will soon notice that its not just reading that creates wisdom. It’s what happens after the reading is over. It’s the digesting of the ideas that were sparked from your readings that will combine with your own perspectives, experiences and intuition to create something you can apply to life’s situations.
Don’t hesitate to use your wisdom. Some people may have great wisdom, but they lock it up inside themselves, not brave enough apply it. Wisdom must be expressed in order to unleash its power. So trust the instincts of your wisdom and have the courage to respectfully apply it to how you think and what you write, say and do. When you do that, you start using it as a miraculous edge, as Michael Phelps did with his inseam.
One final thought: when you find a wise person, consider making her or him your friend. Wise people are rare and worth 100x a non-wise person. You will recognize them quite easily. They’re the people who pause before they speak. They will listen more than they talk. They will deal with challenges with grace and will know how to manage their emotions and struggles better than the rest. They will usually be leaders, people who will be driven, yet kind, smiling and open-minded. (Hint: they’re also likely be meditators or at least open to meditating!).
Love, Mom
Quotes on Wisdom for you to Enjoy
"The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them." - Paulo Coelho
"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." - William James
"The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Wisdom is the power to put our time and our knowledge to the proper use." - Thomas J. Watson
"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it." - Albert Einstein
"Wisdom acquisition is a moral duty. It’s not something you do just to advance in life. As a corollary to that proposition which is very important, it means that you are hooked for lifetime learning.” - Charlie Munger