Mark Gorkin

The Definition and Evolution of Professional Wisdom:<br />
The Paths and Processes of Mentoring and Meandering<br />
<br />
While exploring a theme during an association committee meeting, two<br />
thought-provoking questions were posed: What is "professional wisdom" and how<br />
does one gain the same? The Webster's Third New International Dictionary<br />
helps launch an investigation. To summarize, as an adjective, "professional"<br />
refers to an individual engaged in an occupation requiring a high level of<br />
training and proficiency. The role is characterized by technical and/or<br />
ethical standards, such that this individual demonstrates a fine artistry or<br />
workmanship based on education, the application of sound knowledge,<br />
conscientiousness and experience.<br />
<br />
"Wisdom" seemingly emerges from a professional foundation or, at least,<br />
reaches some maturity through "hard-earned," growing pains process or journey<br />
that enriches both the head and the heart. Wisdom is:<br />
1) Accumulated information or lore, or instinctive adaptation;<br />
2) The intelligent application of learning; that is, the ability to<br />
discern inner qualities and essential relationships; and,<br />
3) Characterized by integrity and character.<br />
<br />
Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best: "The mouth of a wise man is in<br />
his heart."<br />
<br />
Now that we have defined our terms, let's identify two wisdom-generating<br />
paths and processes -- "mentoring" and "meandering." While posited<br />
separately, clearly, these "M & M"s can come together and nourish a life journey. <br />
And, like everything else, overdosing on these "M & M"s can have <br />
consequences:<br />
<br />
1. Mentoring. Most of us can think of a knowledgeable and understanding,<br />
more senior supervisor or colleague (or relative, teacher, coach,<br />
therapist, etc.) who took us under his or her wing. This individual shared ideas<br />
and preached from experience, helped us bathe wounds or got us back on our<br />
feet during or after daunting learning curve trials. He or she also<br />
provided practical shortcuts based on greater time on the battle lines. For many,<br />
this person becomes a role model significantly influencing both our<br />
professional substance and communication style, especially in those<br />
identify-forming years. One caveat: totally embracing a mentor's way - because one<br />
sees the mentor as God-like or because it's easier following a familiar or<br />
safe trail - may hinder the development of one's own individuality and<br />
confidence to explore.<br />
<br />
Let me provide an example. When I first moved to Washington, DC in 1990,<br />
after sixteen years in New Orleans, I was hungry for connecting with<br />
another collection of oddballs and outcasts. In the Big Easy, all it took was <br />
strolling down the street; in DC I had to join an "Artists Support Group." <br />
One of the mind-opening discoveries was the fact that many of the visual <br />
artists, with BFAs and MFAs, were lamenting the loss of their distinct visual <br />
style and "voice." These folks believed they had aligned too closely with <br />
a graduate advisor or other faculty member, forsaking much of their<br />
previous interests, perspectives or style. Also, for practical reasons many had <br />
crossed the border from fine to commercial/graphic arts. Now, often <br />
struggling with a seemingly mid-career malaise or burnout, they wanted to return <br />
to their creative roots and rediscover a vehicle for personal if not<br />
singular artistic expression.<br />
<br />
Now consider this anti-academic saga. As a speaker and writer, my odyssey<br />
began by dropping out of the Tulane University School of Social Work<br />
doctoral program in 1981. A mystical-like experience propelled me to attempt a<br />
wildly creative dissertation topic that was, frankly, "off the academic<br />
wall." (In hindsight, I understand why my advisors were skeptical. At the<br />
time I wasn't going to let those conservative academics stifle this budding<br />
talent.) Eventually, I burnt out on the process, dropped out of the program<br />
and was on my own -- a state both scary and exhilarating. My professional<br />
canvas was blank. How was I going to fill it? There were two silver<br />
linings: I was ready to become an expert on stress and burnout (I may be<br />
hard-headed but I'm no dummy) and New Orleans definitely needed a media "Stress<br />
Doc" ™.<br />
<br />
In the early '80s, oil had gone bust and the state of Louisiana had passed<br />
West Virginia as the most economically depressed state in the union. The<br />
burnt out "Bayou State" was ready for an expert who could so personally and<br />
vividly talk about the experience of the "erosive spiral." Through sheer<br />
"chutzpah," I broke into radio and TV and began experimenting with and<br />
developing my own style of brief essays that blended good psychology with<br />
irreverent wit (my "psychohumorist" ™ voice), memorable phraseology ("Practice<br />
Safe Stress" ™) and fast-paced energy. For example, one early radio essay<br />
title was: "Breaking out of a Hell of a Shell or Don't Feel Too Sorry for<br />
Humpty Dumpty…He Needed to Hit Bottom."<br />
<br />
Actually, these substance and style attributes, supplemented by an ability<br />
to generate engaging and fun group exercises for audiences of any size,<br />
over time led to designing uncommon programming as a speaker and workshop <br />
leader. As a former girl friend noted, I have been on "the journey of a word<br />
artist." This example of the dangers of mentoring and, conversely, the<br />
opportunities that opened once outside of academia, leads to the second path <br />
for gaining professional wisdom.<br />
<br />
2. Meandering. In contrast to mentoring, one may evolve skills,<br />
experience and ultimately, some wisdom, less by coaching and more by on the job<br />
training, especially when (mostly) flying solo. A meandering learning curve,<br />
not surprisingly, is often of longer duration, with unexpected detours and<br />
learning paths and has greater frequency of errors. Self-defeating<br />
consequences may arise: one can get lost or stuck when rigidly defying authority<br />
or custom or always having to do it "my way." Still there may be two<br />
distinctly positive outcomes: a) the development of a more individual, fresh and<br />
authentic voice or uncommon modus operandi and b) a greater willingness to<br />
take risks and a begrudging acceptance of the need for and, even, value of<br />
both failing and of challenging the conventional. Solitary meandering may<br />
well help foster inner resources and resolve.<br />
<br />
Evolution and "The Secret of Wisdom"<br />
<br />
Whether through mentoring or meandering, when character develops in the<br />
course of meaningful, give-and-take interaction or integrity builds from<br />
soul-searching solitude, and these maturational markers gradually learn to<br />
dance together, here is a path and process for personal-professional evolution<br />
and wisdom. As Jonas Salk, one of the groundbreaking discoverers of the<br />
Polio Vaccine, observed: Evolution is about getting up one more time than we<br />
fall down, being courageous one more time than we are fearful, trusting<br />
just one more time than being anxious. And along with a sense of<br />
persistence, everyday struggle and appreciation for even small triumphs is the need<br />
for serenity: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,<br />
the courage to change the things I can...and the wisdom to know where to<br />
hide the bodies." No...Just kidding. ;-) "And the wisdom to know the<br />
difference." And the older I get, the more profound "The Serenity Prayer" seems.<br />
Yet, a fundamental question remains: how the heck do you get the wisdom?<br />
Okay, folks. Here it is...The Secret of Wisdom.<br />
<br />
Once there was a young woman who heard that an old wise woman had the<br />
secret of wisdom. The young woman was determined to track the old woman down. <br />
After traveling many months, the young woman found the old woman in a<br />
cave. She entered and addressed the old woman: "Old Wise Woman, I hear you<br />
have The Secret of Wisdom. Would you share it with me? The old woman looked<br />
at the youth and said, "Yes, you seem sincere. The Secret of Wisdom is<br />
good judgment." "Good judgment, of course," said the youth, thanked her<br />
mentor, and started to leave. However, as she got to the entrance of the cave<br />
she paused, turned back and said, "Old Woman, I feel funny, but, if I may<br />
ask, how does one obtain good judgment?" "That's a good question," said the<br />
sage. "One obtains good judgment through experience." "Experience, of<br />
course," said the young seeker, and proceeded to leave. But once again she<br />
stopped in her tracks, and humbly walked back to her mentor. "Old Woman,"<br />
said the young woman, "I feel foolish, but I have to ask: How does one<br />
obtain experience?" The old woman paused, nodded her head, and then <br />
proceeded: "Now you have reached the right question. How does one obtain<br />
experience?. . .Through bad judgment!"<br />
<br />
Remember, errors of judgment or design rarely consign one to a state of<br />
incompetence; they more likely reveal inexperience or immaturity, perhaps<br />
even boldness. Our so-called "failures" can be channeled as guiding streams<br />
(okay, sometimes raging rivers) of opportunity and experience that<br />
ultimately enrich -- widen, deepen and expand -- the risk-taking passage...If we can<br />
just immerse ourselves in these unpredictably roiling yet so often<br />
rejuvenating waters. Here are words that spur the striving for higher levels of<br />
professionalism and wisdom and also help us all… Practice Safe Stress!<br />