I love this article! I’ve found that those who do not share their knowledge (especially in the workplace) are believed to either be an info hoarder (someone who hoards info because information is power, and they want to keep the power as leverage) or they just don’t know anything useful. Either way they become a non-asset, and are not the person people seek out for help. Eventually they become so useless that they are no longer needed. Whereas, the person who shares what they know becomes the “go to” resource, the answer person, the “fixer”. They become so valuable that they are rarely on a RIF list, and they are given many golden opportunities. Sure, they may be plagiarized from time to time, but it rarely reduces their value as an asset. Sharing information inspires others to do the same thing. That’s what you’re doing, that’s what I do, and it works quite well. Good article! Keep writing!
Thanks, and I completely agree. My first inclination when someone tries to hoard information is to figure out how to get it anyway. You're right about the value of the transfer.
I'd only say I've seen too many hoarders protected, which always blows my mind because we do so much better work when we share. I've got a different term for them; they're successfully unsuccessful, and, for the love of all things holy, it's shocking how successful they can be: https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/the-successfully-unsuccessful
I have come across two types of unlearning: fixing mistakes made when not preparing thoroughly enough; and realising that what one previously learned was not 100% accurate because one could not have understood the nuances earlier. They require slightly different adjustments.
That's a good point. That second one is tough because what you did learn worked in many cases until additional nuance was added or the circumstances changed.
This was fascinating; I've found myself following this cycle throughout my life, but I didn't know I was doing it. It just always has felt like the right way to approach my intellectual development, but we as a society are untrained to do it. If something must be unlearned, it means you have to sit with the discomfort of being wrong. Women, especially, are untrained in this and socialized to ignore something that may result in re-evaluating opinions or one's self image.
Great insights. The unlearning is certainly the hardest part. It's kind of fun when you embrace it as such because then it takes away 'being wrong.' I'm not wrong.... I'm unlearning!! 😆
Here's another instance where I have made the most dramatic improvements of late. I think the trick now is to never be married to anything, something I think we've spoken about directly. This is the ultimate goal, and it's something I believe we can get closer to over time, but probably never reach simply because our minds are so good at fooling ourselves.
I like to think about the tiny kernel of "me" at the core of it all, just the kid who crawled out of the womb or whatever and wanted to tinker with the world right away.
On the topic of unlearning I recently read think again by Adam Grant and you made a really good case for unlearning. One recommendation Grant has in his book is to schedule time every month to reflect on your beliefs and updating them if new information has come about that changes the validity of said beliefs.
I like the unlearning part because it distills your age old assumptions and beliefs we've been told. It is also the hardest because after you been strip of beliefs, you're left on the edge of uncertainty. But it's good to unlearn what we had been told.
Thank you! The “learn, unlearn, relearn” loop really resonates. It reminds me of the panarchy cycle—how thriving systems move through growth, conservation, release, and reorganisation. It’s about continuously examining our assumptions, intentionally letting go of what no longer serves, and reorganising around better insights. That’s how we stay adaptive in the complex systems we live in.
I love this article! I’ve found that those who do not share their knowledge (especially in the workplace) are believed to either be an info hoarder (someone who hoards info because information is power, and they want to keep the power as leverage) or they just don’t know anything useful. Either way they become a non-asset, and are not the person people seek out for help. Eventually they become so useless that they are no longer needed. Whereas, the person who shares what they know becomes the “go to” resource, the answer person, the “fixer”. They become so valuable that they are rarely on a RIF list, and they are given many golden opportunities. Sure, they may be plagiarized from time to time, but it rarely reduces their value as an asset. Sharing information inspires others to do the same thing. That’s what you’re doing, that’s what I do, and it works quite well. Good article! Keep writing!
Thanks, and I completely agree. My first inclination when someone tries to hoard information is to figure out how to get it anyway. You're right about the value of the transfer.
I'd only say I've seen too many hoarders protected, which always blows my mind because we do so much better work when we share. I've got a different term for them; they're successfully unsuccessful, and, for the love of all things holy, it's shocking how successful they can be: https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/the-successfully-unsuccessful
Excellent.
I have come across two types of unlearning: fixing mistakes made when not preparing thoroughly enough; and realising that what one previously learned was not 100% accurate because one could not have understood the nuances earlier. They require slightly different adjustments.
That's a good point. That second one is tough because what you did learn worked in many cases until additional nuance was added or the circumstances changed.
This was fascinating; I've found myself following this cycle throughout my life, but I didn't know I was doing it. It just always has felt like the right way to approach my intellectual development, but we as a society are untrained to do it. If something must be unlearned, it means you have to sit with the discomfort of being wrong. Women, especially, are untrained in this and socialized to ignore something that may result in re-evaluating opinions or one's self image.
Great insights. The unlearning is certainly the hardest part. It's kind of fun when you embrace it as such because then it takes away 'being wrong.' I'm not wrong.... I'm unlearning!! 😆
Here's another instance where I have made the most dramatic improvements of late. I think the trick now is to never be married to anything, something I think we've spoken about directly. This is the ultimate goal, and it's something I believe we can get closer to over time, but probably never reach simply because our minds are so good at fooling ourselves.
I agree. We need to be anchored, but we also need to be adaptable. It's a challenge throughout life to keep that balance.
I like to think about the tiny kernel of "me" at the core of it all, just the kid who crawled out of the womb or whatever and wanted to tinker with the world right away.
I have such an ambivalent relationship with Toffler, I need to reread him
He was pretty on top of it. Of everything he did, this quote is the one that's had the biggest impact.
BRILLIANT !!! 👍👍👍 🔥🔥🔥
Thanks very much !!!
Now, let us try to get the message into the parliaments ...
Haha. Absolutly!
Great post!
On the topic of unlearning I recently read think again by Adam Grant and you made a really good case for unlearning. One recommendation Grant has in his book is to schedule time every month to reflect on your beliefs and updating them if new information has come about that changes the validity of said beliefs.
Great connection.
I like the unlearning part because it distills your age old assumptions and beliefs we've been told. It is also the hardest because after you been strip of beliefs, you're left on the edge of uncertainty. But it's good to unlearn what we had been told.
100% While I love sacraficing sacred cows, it's also important to understand and analyze the value of traditions!
https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/sacred-cows-make-the-best-burgers
Thank you! The “learn, unlearn, relearn” loop really resonates. It reminds me of the panarchy cycle—how thriving systems move through growth, conservation, release, and reorganisation. It’s about continuously examining our assumptions, intentionally letting go of what no longer serves, and reorganising around better insights. That’s how we stay adaptive in the complex systems we live in.
Great points and I agree. Glad to hear it resonates. It's been transformative to my own thinking and this helps add more to that idea!
It would be useful if we all had the ability to “unlearn” attaching our ideas to our identities.
Good point! Maybe just make unlearning part of our identity! 😆