So as Steve Jobs gently reminded the world: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”
I’m not going to mince words nor am I going to beat around the bush; I consider myself to be somewhat of a Renaissance man.
I like to believe that I know a thing or two about a thing or two because I’ve experimented and survived from a thing or two. I enjoy learning about anything and everything relevant to my existence and I also embrace the fact that I will never know enough/too much.
Life has blessed me with the opportunity to watch and learn off people from all different walks of life — both legitimate and illegitimate. From upper echelon gang members to legitimate entrepreneurs to unskilled laborers and pretty much everything in between; I’ve been in contact with, watched and learned from ’em all.
Some were successful at their respective professions. Others, not so much.
But more importantly than their level of success was how the more successful ones were also the more knowledgeable, experienced, understanding, and receptive of the bunch. That’s what I really cared about.
The narrower minded folks seemed to struggled more and attained less success.
More often than not, greater wisdom equated to greater success. It seems like a simple concept but I don’t think many people get it.
What gives?
Well after an simply yet enlightening and analytical assessment of my findings, I arrived at the conclusion that wisdom stems from a combination of adversity, hardship and experience. In order to obtain wisdom, you must exchange time and effort for it.
You must live and learn. Your mind must be open and willing to receive and digest new information, practices, and ways of life.
To be the wisest and most fulfilled of the bunch, you must be the most open-minded.
You can’t borrow, buy, fake, steal, or borrow an open-mind. You must acquire it through hard work and dedication. You must practice acceptance and mindfulness. You must invest your sweat equity in exchange for it.
There’s simply no other way.
And having a narrow and fixed mindset — as opposed to a growth mindset — will only limit how much wisdom you’re able to absorb. Those possessing fixed mindsets aren’t able to experience and comprehend the finer details in life as well as those whom are willing to challenge their beliefs and not know everything.
In order to fully experience life’s full range of occurrences, one must accept that all possibilities are in the realm of reality.
No ifs, ands or buts.
To put things in a simpler context: the wisest person in the room is the one who believes that nothing is impossible.
They are the ones who stay hungrier and more foolish than the rest.
I am very quickly realizing the power of a mind. Especially a wide open one. And how powerful it can be.
Maybe powerful enough to change the world?
I’m definitely open to that!
I’m also open to any other possibility.
Except being close-minded.
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Originally published at medium.com