Top 10 Nuances: Why Wisdom Trumps Experience?

Top 10 Nuances: Why Wisdom Trumps Experience?

In the business world, experience is often conflated with wisdom: 

That guy has tons of experience, he knows everything.

 Haven’t we all heard that one before? But we do not often hear:

That guy has tons of experience, but he is not very smart.

This is because most people like to believe that smarts, i.e., wisdom comes naturally with experience. Unfortunately, this is not always or necessarily true. Let me start by conflating the intellect of a scientist with the musings of a philosopher. So here’s what Albert Einstein, the “Einstein” of scientists and a fountainhead of knowledge, had to say about experience: 

The only source of knowledge is experience.

 And, Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, had this to say about wisdom:

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. 

It’s easy to agree with a scientist, especially Einstein, and disagree, albeit partly, with a philosopher. Confucius, I believe, had it right about the bitterness of experience, but I am not so sure he had it right about experience always translating to wisdom.

Having set the stage with a scientist and a philosopher, let me present my own "Top 10 nuances between Experience and Wisdom:"

  1. Experience is a function of time, Wisdom is a function of intellect.
  2. Experience is the repository, Wisdom is what mines it.
  3. Experience sometimes flatters to deceive, Wisdom is typically plain to see.
  4. Experience diagnoses the problem, Wisdom solves it.
  5. Experience proposes, Wisdom disposes.
  6. Experience is hard earned, Wisdom is well spent.
  7. Experience seeks opportunity, Wisdom seizes it.
  8. Experience carries risk, Wisdom offers reward.
  9. Experience won’t let you down, Wisdom will lift you up.
  10. Experience is valuable, Wisdom is priceless.

So dear LinkedIn colleagues, feel free to weigh in on this subject with either your experience with wisdom or your wisdom on experience. For the record, I have tons of experience, but I fervently hope that I am always learning. 

Happy Memorial Day

Publisher’s Note:

The definitions of wisdom and experience, from the Cambridge and Oxford online dictionaries respectively, are presented below. 

Wisdom 

the ability to make good judgments based on what you have learned from your experience, or the knowledge and understanding that gives you this ability. 

the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have 

Experience 

(the process of getting) knowledge or skill that is obtained from doing, seeing, or feeling things, or something that happens which has an effect on you 

the knowledge and skill that you have gained through doing something for a period of time; the process of gaining this

You explained the nuances well. The definitions confirmed what you wrote. Experience feeds into wisdom as you integrate contemplation and reflection along the way. Add love, empathy and consideration for self and others and you are well on your way!

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Jack. If you took offense, I apologize.

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I agree with Beth Walsh. An effective leader must be able to feel empathy for others. Indeed, just because you FEEL empathy does not mean that you have to ACT on it. But without that source of knowledge (and experience in using it), you will be charging around like a bull in a chinashop. Knowledge and intelligence without heart is often called "Asperger".

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Interesting article, Jack. But I think real wisdom comes from the integration of experience and intellect with heart and/or empathy. Without heart, you really cannot be wise.

Ryan Butzman

President at Cresswood Shredding Machinery, Gardener & Pragmatic Optimist

8y

Experience is an ingredient list, wisdom is the artfully crafted dish

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