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The Knowledge Ceiling

I work with some pretty smart people....partners, colleagues, clients, a team of fine folks.

We train weekly....sales process, technology changes, best practices....sharpening the saw. Many of us are curious by nature, so we seek out new things naturally. Trade rags, articles on new developments and recent trends, white papers, what have you.

But I've noticed something. No matter how good we are or how hard we try, we run into a peculiar problem...there is only so much knowledge contained within a group.  We have shared as much info as is contained within a particular group. We look around and see that what was once a series of shared discoveries is now communal knowledge. Occasionally we hit a ceiling.

Being relevant has a finite expiration date, without knowledge growth. We have, often, had to look hard to find new things to learn. It's uncommon, as there is so much change within my industry. But it happens.

When it does, it's time to have lunch....or coffee....or set up an educational opportunity outside of our normal ecosystem of knowledge.

I've called companies before, with just one question...."I just want to know what you do." There is great opportunity here.

I've attended events purely for educational purposes, the theme of the event being something I don't know.

It's an odd thing, searching for an answer when you don't even know what the question is yet....but it's a great way to learn.


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