Learning Through Openness

 

Reflecting on my career, I’ve noticed a clear pattern: individuals who actively seek advice and guidance from superiors, colleagues, or external experts to understand unfamiliar concepts consistently develop and demonstrate their abilities. This suggests that learning often advances most when one reaches beyond their own knowledge and engages with others. Moreover, when such proactive individuals ask for help, those around them often feel motivated to respond wholeheartedly. This reaction seems natural, as being asked for advice makes people feel trusted and valued—a feeling that brings genuine happiness and strengthens mutual respect. This dynamic aligns closely with the wisdom of Nakamura Tempu (1876–1968), a Japanese inspirational thinker, martial artist, and founder of Japanese-style yoga. He once said, “The distinction between individuals who become great and those who don’t arises because, even when exposed to the same narrative, their manner of listening and receptiveness differs significantly. The only discernible difference lies in how they apply what they receive to their own lives.” His words perfectly capture what I have observed throughout my professional life: true growth depends not merely on what we hear, but on how open we are to learning from it.

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