Don’t Be a “Know-it-All;” Be a “Know-Nothing!”

October 19, 2009 - 0 Comments
Categories: Motivation & Success

showdown_in_little_tokyoIgnorance may or may not be bliss, but a little well planned ignorance can be the key to growth. I was reminded of this ideas from a ridiculously awesome martial arts movie, of all places…

Last night I re-watched Showdown in Little Tokyo. This a classic 1991 martial arts movie in the “so bad it’s good” category. This movie stands a few notches above the rest because of who it stars. No, not Dolph Lundgren (though he is the main character). Showdown in Little Tokyo is Brandon Lee’s first U.S. feature file role.

If you are unaware, Brandon Lee is Bruce Lee’s son. Brandon, like his father, sadly passed away at a far too early age while shooting The Crow. I felt saddened watching “Showdown…” both at the tragedy of his untimely death and also at the loss to the world of this very talented actor/martial artist who would surely have had a wonderful film career.

Being a wannabe-intellectual, I started doing some online research into Brandon’s life and came across this quote from Brandon:

“…It’s funny, every time you come up against a true barrier to your progress, you are a child again. And it’s a very interesting experience to be reduced, once again, to the level of knowing nothing about what you’re doing. I think there’s a lot of room for learning and growth when that happens—if you face it head on and don’t choose to say, “Ah, screw that! I’m going to do something else!”

We reduce ourselves at a certain point in our lives to kind of solely pursuing things that we already know how to do. You know, because you don’t want to have that experience of not knowing what you’re doing and being an amateur again. And I think that’s rather unfortunate. It’s so much more interesting and usually illuminating to put yourself in a situation where you don’t know what’s going to happen, than to do something again that you already know essentially what the outcome will be within three or four points either way.”

How awesome a message is that?? I re-read the above a few times and just let it sink in. You should too; I think there is a lot to learn from it:

How do you respond when faced where a situation where you don’t know what you are doing?

Truly a tragic loss, but we can still learn a lot from Brandon

Truly a tragic loss, but we can still learn a lot from Brandon

Do you say, “ah, screw that! I’m going to do something else!” or do you use it as an opportunity for growth?

Most of us, especially as we get older and “wiser” (*cough* *cough*), get less willing to return to the state of the “beginner.” To quote Roger Murtaugh from the Lethal Weapon movies, it’s a lot easier to just say, “I’m gettin’ too old for this s!@#.”

Unfortunately, by avoiding all things new and unknown, you cut off your opportunities for growth, learning, and self-illumination.

When is the last time you encountered something completely unknown to you? Did you approach it with the dogged determination of a child, keeping at it until you figured it out? Or did you say, “ah, screw that! I’m going to do something else!”

This doesn’t have to apply to just large life decisions like whether to go back to school or start your own business. It could apply to learning a new bit of technology, or trying to cook a new cuisine, or engaging in a bit of home repair that you didn’t know anything about.

The key is that it’s less about the actual knowledge you will be gaining and more about the process of being a beginner again and the opportunities for growth as a person that provides.

Out of the entirety of Brandon’s quote, I think, We reduce ourselves at a certain point in our lives to kind of solely pursuing things that we already know how to do, is the most poignant line. I don’t disagree with it at all.

I challenge you to not fall into that category. Pick one thing right now, big or small, that you will pursue that you do not currently know how to do. Succeed or fail, you will be better for the experience.

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By Avish Parashar. As the world's only Motivational Improviser, Avish uses techniques from the world of improv comedy to engage, entertain, and educate audiences on ideas around change, creativity, and motivation. Connect with Avish on Google+

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