The Definition and Evolution of Professional Wisdom:
The Paths and Processes of Mentoring and Meandering

While exploring a theme during an association committee meeting, two
thought-provoking questions were posed: What is "professional wisdom" and how
does one gain the same? The Webster's Third New International Dictionary
helps launch an investigation. To summarize, as an adjective, "professional"
refers to an individual engaged in an occupation requiring a high level of
training and proficiency. The role is characterized by technical and/or
ethical standards, such that this individual demonstrates a fine artistry or
workmanship based on education, the application of sound knowledge,
conscientiousness and experience.

"Wisdom" seemingly emerges from a professional foundation or, at least,
reaches some maturity through "hard-earned," growing pains process or journey
that enriches both the head and the heart. Wisdom is:
1) Accumulated information or lore, or instinctive adaptation;
2) The intelligent application of learning; that is, the ability to
discern inner qualities and essential relationships; and,
3) Characterized by integrity and character.

Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best: "The mouth of a wise man is in
his heart."

Now that we have defined our terms, let's identify two wisdom-generating
paths and processes -- "mentoring" and "meandering." While posited
separately, clearly, these "M & M"s can come together and nourish a life journey.
And, like everything else, overdosing on these "M & M"s can have
consequences:

1. Mentoring. Most of us can think of a knowledgeable and understanding,
more senior supervisor or colleague (or relative, teacher, coach,
therapist, etc.) who took us under his or her wing. This individual shared ideas
and preached from experience, helped us bathe wounds or got us back on our
feet during or after daunting learning curve trials. He or she also
provided practical shortcuts based on greater time on the battle lines. For many,
this person becomes a role model significantly influencing both our
professional substance and communication style, especially in those
identify-forming years. One caveat: totally embracing a mentor's way - because one
sees the mentor as God-like or because it's easier following a familiar or
safe trail - may hinder the development of one's own individuality and
confidence to explore.

Let me provide an example. When I first moved to Washington, DC in 1990,
after sixteen years in New Orleans, I was hungry for connecting with
another collection of oddballs and outcasts. In the Big Easy, all it took was
strolling down the street; in DC I had to join an "Artists Support Group."
One of the mind-opening discoveries was the fact that many of the visual
artists, with BFAs and MFAs, were lamenting the loss of their distinct visual
style and "voice." These folks believed they had aligned too closely with
a graduate advisor or other faculty member, forsaking much of their
previous interests, perspectives or style. Also, for practical reasons many had
crossed the border from fine to commercial/graphic arts. Now, often
struggling with a seemingly mid-career malaise or burnout, they wanted to return
to their creative roots and rediscover a vehicle for personal if not
singular artistic expression.

Now consider this anti-academic saga. As a speaker and writer, my odyssey
began by dropping out of the Tulane University School of Social Work
doctoral program in 1981. A mystical-like experience propelled me to attempt a
wildly creative dissertation topic that was, frankly, "off the academic
wall." (In hindsight, I understand why my advisors were skeptical. At the
time I wasn't going to let those conservative academics stifle this budding
talent.) Eventually, I burnt out on the process, dropped out of the program
and was on my own -- a state both scary and exhilarating. My professional
canvas was blank. How was I going to fill it? There were two silver
linings: I was ready to become an expert on stress and burnout (I may be
hard-headed but I'm no dummy) and New Orleans definitely needed a media "Stress
Doc" ™.

In the early '80s, oil had gone bust and the state of Louisiana had passed
West Virginia as the most economically depressed state in the union. The
burnt out "Bayou State" was ready for an expert who could so personally and
vividly talk about the experience of the "erosive spiral." Through sheer
"chutzpah," I broke into radio and TV and began experimenting with and
developing my own style of brief essays that blended good psychology with
irreverent wit (my "psychohumorist" ™ voice), memorable phraseology ("Practice
Safe Stress" ™) and fast-paced energy. For example, one early radio essay
title was: "Breaking out of a Hell of a Shell or Don't Feel Too Sorry for
Humpty Dumpty…He Needed to Hit Bottom."

Actually, these substance and style attributes, supplemented by an ability
to generate engaging and fun group exercises for audiences of any size,
over time led to designing uncommon programming as a speaker and workshop
leader. As a former girl friend noted, I have been on "the journey of a word
artist." This example of the dangers of mentoring and, conversely, the
opportunities that opened once outside of academia, leads to the second path
for gaining professional wisdom.

2. Meandering. In contrast to mentoring, one may evolve skills,
experience and ultimately, some wisdom, less by coaching and more by on the job
training, especially when (mostly) flying solo. A meandering learning curve,
not surprisingly, is often of longer duration, with unexpected detours and
learning paths and has greater frequency of errors. Self-defeating
consequences may arise: one can get lost or stuck when rigidly defying authority
or custom or always having to do it "my way." Still there may be two
distinctly positive outcomes: a) the development of a more individual, fresh and
authentic voice or uncommon modus operandi and b) a greater willingness to
take risks and a begrudging acceptance of the need for and, even, value of
both failing and of challenging the conventional. Solitary meandering may
well help foster inner resources and resolve.

Evolution and "The Secret of Wisdom"

Whether through mentoring or meandering, when character develops in the
course of meaningful, give-and-take interaction or integrity builds from
soul-searching solitude, and these maturational markers gradually learn to
dance together, here is a path and process for personal-professional evolution
and wisdom. As Jonas Salk, one of the groundbreaking discoverers of the
Polio Vaccine, observed: Evolution is about getting up one more time than we
fall down, being courageous one more time than we are fearful, trusting
just one more time than being anxious. And along with a sense of
persistence, everyday struggle and appreciation for even small triumphs is the need
for serenity: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can...and the wisdom to know where to
hide the bodies." No...Just kidding. ;-) "And the wisdom to know the
difference." And the older I get, the more profound "The Serenity Prayer" seems.
Yet, a fundamental question remains: how the heck do you get the wisdom?
Okay, folks. Here it is...The Secret of Wisdom.

Once there was a young woman who heard that an old wise woman had the
secret of wisdom. The young woman was determined to track the old woman down.
After traveling many months, the young woman found the old woman in a
cave. She entered and addressed the old woman: "Old Wise Woman, I hear you
have The Secret of Wisdom. Would you share it with me? The old woman looked
at the youth and said, "Yes, you seem sincere. The Secret of Wisdom is
good judgment." "Good judgment, of course," said the youth, thanked her
mentor, and started to leave. However, as she got to the entrance of the cave
she paused, turned back and said, "Old Woman, I feel funny, but, if I may
ask, how does one obtain good judgment?" "That's a good question," said the
sage. "One obtains good judgment through experience." "Experience, of
course," said the young seeker, and proceeded to leave. But once again she
stopped in her tracks, and humbly walked back to her mentor. "Old Woman,"
said the young woman, "I feel foolish, but I have to ask: How does one
obtain experience?" The old woman paused, nodded her head, and then
proceeded: "Now you have reached the right question. How does one obtain
experience?. . .Through bad judgment!"

Remember, errors of judgment or design rarely consign one to a state of
incompetence; they more likely reveal inexperience or immaturity, perhaps
even boldness. Our so-called "failures" can be channeled as guiding streams
(okay, sometimes raging rivers) of opportunity and experience that
ultimately enrich -- widen, deepen and expand -- the risk-taking passage...If we can
just immerse ourselves in these unpredictably roiling yet so often
rejuvenating waters. Here are words that spur the striving for higher levels of
professionalism and wisdom and also help us all… Practice Safe Stress!