We probably all know someone who invests more time in trying to appear smart vs gaining real knowledge.

In this iconic clip from the TV show, The Newsroom, on the topic of how knowledge and intelligence were viewed in the past, this is said.

We aspired to intelligence; we didn’t belittle it; it didn’t make us feel inferior.

Knowledge grows or shrinks depending on how we feed it. If we nurture it with curiosity, humility and a growth mindset, it will grow and reap benefits exponentially. Knowledge is one of the few assets that multiplies by sharing. On the other hand, if we browbeat it with fear, arrogance and a know-it-all attitude, it will stagnate away in a corner.

Organisations that consciously encourage the growth and sharing of knowledge freely are the ones armed for the long haul. In Seth Godin’s words, secrets don’t last and when they are eventually figured out, one of the things that will matter is the prevailing culture around knowledge.

Ignorance is an opportunity. After all, if there is nothing more to learn, what’s left to motivate?