“When you listen and read one thinker, you become a clone… two thinkers, you become confused… ten thinkers, you’ll begin developing your own voice… two or three hundred thinkers, you become wise and develop your voice.”
―Timothy Keller

It started at my house. Andre walked in and saw a book I was reading. It was a book on marriage. Know that the tone of all of this was light hearted and sarcastic in tone enjoying giving each other a hard time. It was clear that she was not impressed. “Why are you reading that?” She had heard of the book before and was not interested in reading it because of the persona around it and the perspectives that she had heard about it, creating a perception that the book was not worth the time to read. To which I responded, “So, I am reading a book about marriage and you are giving me a hard time?” She kind of laughed and said, “good point.”

We went on to have a great conversation. The truth is that if I am reading a book about marriage, the chances are very likely it will help my marriage. Regardless of the premise or its approach, I think in some way I can find a way to learn something, apply it and my marriage will benefit. Every book, every talk, every story has the potential to teach me one new thing to put in my pocket of experience called life.

I believe that we can learn something from everyone. Regardless of a philosophical approach, political view, ideology, theology, strategy, passion or purpose in pursuit…I can still learn something from others. They may be younger, they may be older, they may be less educated or more thoughtful – we have the opportunity to take one new thought away from every person we interact with. I have been having more and more conversations with people who get offended that I integrate unlikely individuals into my psyche, they think it may be dangerous. I hear statements like: Why would you quote them? How could you read their book? You listen to that person? I can’t believe you would even give them your time. But is it right that we would disregard a person completely because we do not agree with them completely?  Is it possible that we don’t want to have to do the work of discerning what is right or wrong about what they might be saying? Are we taking the easy way out by casting them aside completely?

So why do I think this matters?

1)   Connectedness of ideas.
Malcolm Gladwell refers to this unique minded leader as a Maven in the book The Tipping Point. “Information Specialists,” or “people we rely on to connect us with new information.” I believe if we are moving forward in society with the pursuit of innovation, taking information from a wide array of thought, and connecting this thinking together it will create the future of innovation. Learning from chefs, environmental activists, educators and accountants come together at the perfect time to make something new in the future. Too often we hear something and think there is no purpose for my future in this information, but too often you are missing out on the opportunity of what could be created because of what you are learning in that moment. As we move forward in society, the people who can connect ideas from seemingly impossible places will create what is common for tomorrow. The bringing together of utterly impossible ideas into something that does not exist is where brilliance emerges.

2)   Greater view creates deeper creation.
The way that I see the world is limited based on the amount I have been able to experience. When I experience what others have experienced my breadth of worldview extends further. My story is very small in the context of the broad world and I want to understand the world in a greater way. In the pursuit of innovation, the more we know the more informed creators we become. If I have limited view of the world, this creates a limited view of what I have the potential to create. By learning from others I will always gain a greater worldview.

3)   Learning is a strategic differentiation. The truth is most people do not take the time to keep learning. If you had the privilege of attending a collegiate institution, there is a good chance you heard professors talk about the importance of being a lifelong learner. Most leaders do not take this seriously. This does not mean that leaders don’t have the books, it is very common for organizational leaders to have the book on their bookcase, but it is also very common that the books have never been cracked open and read. As we learn and have a diverse perspective in learning, it is an instant benefit in any marketplace you find yourself.

There is a significant chance that readers will not agree with my assessment. You don’t have to agree. But, I would like you to have one take away from this post. Next time you are hearing the story or teaching of a person that you would traditionally not give the time of day…try something for me. Change your entire mindset for that time to focus on one question. What is one thing that I can take away from what this person is saying? Just one thing. Try to learn one thing. I think you will begin to see that it will be easy to write one significant thing down from that person. They may not see the world the same as you. That is ok…actually that is the point.

Read more on Courage and Fear.
Introduction to Courage