"By three methods we may learn wisdom - First, by reflection, which is noblest; second by imitation which is the easiest and the third by experience which is the bitterest"
- Confucious
Whatever that we learnt in school and universities - be it science, history, geography, arts, engineering etc. are nothing but accumulated experiences of several people who had painstakingly put in their conscientious and diligent efforts to discover, duplicate, replicate, invent, innovate, observe, record and document etc. extensively for a long period of time that involved exhaustive laborious hours of patience, tolerance, suffering, endurance or even death for us to receive and gain that knowledge from our teachers and professors.
Logically extending it further, even our teachers and professors (not all!) had to face that strictest rigor by putting in their cognitive effort to simplify complex concepts for us.
Logically extending it further, even our teachers and professors (not all!) had to face that strictest rigor by putting in their cognitive effort to simplify complex concepts for us.
So, that's two levels of experiences that's involved with us when we are either active or passive participants in the respective institutions of schools and universities.
Only two levels? Nayyyyy.
The moment we are attentive or having pipe-dreams during the class hours, this is another level of experience that's taking place for us either at a conscious or subconscious or unconscious level.
Thus, at every moment of our life, there are at least 3 levels of experience to which a person is subjected whether they have their involvement in it or not that could be due to their liking and disliking for it.
Thus, at every moment of our life, there are at least 3 levels of experience to which a person is subjected whether they have their involvement in it or not that could be due to their liking and disliking for it.
Why I said "at least" 3 levels is because there could be more which can possibly be happening all around us to us at our visible and invisible levels.
And yes. It's perfectly applicable to those who haven't been to schools too.
How?
They personally experience events or situations and learn from it (not all again!). They hear/see the knowledge being given by others to some other people and imbibe it (not all again!). They learn from the experiences of others (not all again!).
Not experiencing is yet another kind of experience that's equally germane to those who undergoes formal or informal education but one thing is certain that the willingness to learn should be present at all moments to stay sharp and take the right decisions in easy or tough times.
Whatever be the number of dimensions of experiences that could potentially exist, the knowledge which we have received or shared between/amongst us is only theoretical as we haven't actually experienced them other than the act of being in the process when the transference occurred between the teacher and student.
It's only when we begin to implement them that our own personal experience is kickstarted, initiated, grows and develops within our chosen field of blood, sweat, and tears.
It's only when we begin to implement them that our own personal experience is kickstarted, initiated, grows and develops within our chosen field of blood, sweat, and tears.
Knowing anything is inherently an experience. But, understanding the knowing is better. The best is the experiencing of the understanding of the knowing.
However, you should have the wisdom what could be experienced or not so that you don't put others' lives in jeopardy for your need or want to experience something or anything.
And to have the wisdom, mastery of wisdom comes at a later time!, you should clear-cut have the sound knowledge between right and wrong and implement them day in and day out even if it goes against one's personal interests, likings, and preferences.
"Experience is the teacher of all things"
- Julius Caesar
It's like a sports critic in a newspaper or TV excoriating a person for their blunder on the field when they do not have a single prior practicing or training or playing under the sweltering sun or freezing snow but cutely hides behind the wrong justification stating "That's your job. Do it properly. This is my job. I am doing it properly".
The so-called critics have no sense of hardship or ordeals what a sportsperson would mentally, physically, emotionally and psychologically undergo on the field - the pressure, stress, tension, and expectation from and live up to their parents, their spouses, themselves and most importantly, the nation for which they represent to win that shiny cup/medal.
The so-called critics have no sense of hardship or ordeals what a sportsperson would mentally, physically, emotionally and psychologically undergo on the field - the pressure, stress, tension, and expectation from and live up to their parents, their spouses, themselves and most importantly, the nation for which they represent to win that shiny cup/medal.
Even if a critic has the right talent of imagination to see from their perspective, it's still not a substitute for the direct experience where a person undergoes severe and harsh difficulties during their workouts in the gym and playouts on the ground.
To give yet another twist from a different angle, case studies are a part and parcel of MBA-ians life. You will encounter plentiful that's to be analyzed and presented to the class or your faculty or both. When you do it as a mere mark-scoring exercise, get the degree and a plump job, the value of the case studies cease to exist.
The true meaning of case studies is when you grasp the understanding that they are real-world scenarios for which we give a solution though it will not be implemented by the corporate who faced the problem. Unless and otherwise, it's a competition.
The true meaning of case studies is when you grasp the understanding that they are real-world scenarios for which we give a solution though it will not be implemented by the corporate who faced the problem. Unless and otherwise, it's a competition.
Now, protracting the logical essence further, when such a similar-to-same world scenario happens to us - either personally or professionally - we would be in a better position to tackle them than those who had taken it as a chore to complete.
Also, it is possible to think through innovative solutions when you wisely use and harness the power of your mind to extrapolate the situations and the scenarios.
Also, it is possible to think through innovative solutions when you wisely use and harness the power of your mind to extrapolate the situations and the scenarios.
There are those who will say that a case study is only theoretical and not practical.
But, when you go one step ahead, the case study came into being only because there was an actual issue faced by the organization.
Hence, a case study is an accumulation of experience just like the subjects that we had in our schools.
But, when you go one step ahead, the case study came into being only because there was an actual issue faced by the organization.
Hence, a case study is an accumulation of experience just like the subjects that we had in our schools.
Now, a trickier thing happens.
Whether you have the courage, guts, confidence, and fearlessness to experience the same bad event to you.
If the answer is Yes, then you have mastered the art of experiencing without experiencing.
If the answer is No, then it indicates that there is still tremendous room for improvement to increase your courage and confidence levels to the right degree.
There is yet another filtration here.
The answer 'yes' which you had given - Is it brutally honest covering all conceivable scenarios for the situation along with the emotional aspects associated with it or a 'yes' that simply caters to placate and boost your ego.
If it is the latter, then it's worse than saying a 'No' as you are fooling yourself that you can do something when in actual reality you are inept and incompetent to do it.
If it is the former, then Voila! you have the necessary gumption and conviction to know what it takes to perform a thing without actually experiencing it.
But the best thing will be to just immerse yourself in the happening of things and learn as much as you can from the episode like hard-pressing a lemon in a squeezer without labeling them as 'good experience' or 'bad experience'.
Why I am saying not to label them is that not many people can handle disappointments or rejections in an even manner but they tend to substantially dwell in on the negative side of things for a considerably longer time period that might create and result in medical conditions and health issues or worst-of-the-worst case scenario - death.
But the best thing will be to just immerse yourself in the happening of things and learn as much as you can from the episode like hard-pressing a lemon in a squeezer without labeling them as 'good experience' or 'bad experience'.
Why I am saying not to label them is that not many people can handle disappointments or rejections in an even manner but they tend to substantially dwell in on the negative side of things for a considerably longer time period that might create and result in medical conditions and health issues or worst-of-the-worst case scenario - death.
In the end, the experience is a free-flow of energy that pervades your entire body like the excitement, chills, and thrills you have when you are on a twisty roller-coaster.
A person who has never been on a roller-coaster for any number of reasons like fear of heights or fear of machinery failing etc. can expatiate at great length on how good or fantastic the ride is but it is when they are made to really sit on one, they would have the exact feel of the enjoyment.
Until then, it's either bookish or vicarious or simply heard & seen.
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved".
- Helen Keller
X---To be continued---X
PS 1:
I am well aware that whatever Einstein or Newton or Madam Curie or Edison or Tesla or Galileo underwent were singular experiences that are unique to each and every one of them. But, they worked for science and thus, I collectively summed up all their experiences as one experience under the umbrella of Science as a subject taught in schools and colleges.
The same holds good for geographers where different navigators set sail across wild and raging oceans thus losing their lives or coming up trumps in their quest to discover new lands, flora, fauna, and riches.
The line of reasoning remains intact for other fields as well.
PS 2:
Part 2 will make you think hard & feel deep
PS 1:
I am well aware that whatever Einstein or Newton or Madam Curie or Edison or Tesla or Galileo underwent were singular experiences that are unique to each and every one of them. But, they worked for science and thus, I collectively summed up all their experiences as one experience under the umbrella of Science as a subject taught in schools and colleges.
The same holds good for geographers where different navigators set sail across wild and raging oceans thus losing their lives or coming up trumps in their quest to discover new lands, flora, fauna, and riches.
The line of reasoning remains intact for other fields as well.
PS 2:
Part 2 will make you think hard & feel deep
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