“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”
Lao- Tzu Chinese philosopher
We acquire knowledge and experience as we progress through our lives and careers. It is not a shiny object that we decide to pursue and check off our list of achievements. Instead, developing wisdom is a process that requires time, patience, resilience, sacrifice, humility and compassion. In this book, Chip Conley who sold his highly successful boutique hotel business at age 52, reveals the insights that he lived by and gained after being recruited by Airbnb to grow their start-up into a global hospitality presence. The titles of the chapters in the book beautifully illustrate his journey of being a both a beginner and a sage:
- Your Vintage is Growing in Value
- Am I a “Mentern?”
- Raw, Cooked, Burned, Repeat
- Lesson 1: EVOLVE
- Lesson 2: LEARN
- Lesson 3: COLLABORATE
- Lesson 4: COUNSEL
- Rewire, Don’t Retire
- The Experience Dividend: Embracing Modern Elders in Organizations
The book makes clear that wisdom is not simply the parvenu of older people, although the skill of “cultivating wisdom” may grow with age. It reminds individuals of all ages that the ability to respect relationships, “see the big picture” and synthesize solutions based on a wholistic, interconnected perspective will always be invaluable in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.
