Expanding Your Sphere of Awareness – Part II
Last week, I opened a discussion about one of the most existentially meaningful steps we can take: developing a broad mind to understand a wide world. Surely that’s always been true, but never more than now, given the nature, pace, and scope of change as we hurtle through this dizzying century. (For last week’s column: https://eliamdur.com/index.php/blog/)
My axiom’s corollary says there are more dots to connect (perhaps seemingly unrelated only a few years ago) that are now closely related to us and to each other.
To illustrate that point, I listed 14 dots, which I’ll bet you were either not aware of, slightly aware of, or not concerned with. No problem: that’s natural and it further strengthens my case. I then challenged you to connect them in four pairs and two triplets. For some skin in the game, I asked you to email your answers by noon this past Wednesday, the 1st, 10th, 25th, and last correct respondents earning free mini-coaching sessions with me. I figured we’d have some fun and gain some insight.
Let’s see what happened.
The dots
(1) 25 percent of the world’s nickel reserves are located in New Caledonia. (2) There is water and evidence of rock movement on Mars. (3) The James Webb telescope, launched two months ago, is already performing as was planned. (4) Centenarians in the US numbered 37,000 in 1990 and 97,000 in 2020; their ranks will swell to 600,000 by 2060. (5) The first generation of quantum computing will soon give birth to generation two. (6) The science of laser propulsion is making giant steps forward. (7) El Salvador has made Bitcoin their second official currency, alongside the US dollar. (8) One of every six home sales in America is made to an investor. (9) Sparkling wine is now being produced in Britain, as it was in Roman times. (10) The US will need 30,000 geriatricians by 2030; we have 7,300 now. (11) Ski seasons around the world have shortened by as much as 23 percent. (12) One in five American adults have no or limited credit history. (13) Battery technology is critical to 21st century development. (14) Of the 118 elements on the periodic table, 94 appear naturally on earth.
The connections
The pairs: 1-13; 2-6; 4-10; and 9-11. The triplets: 3-5-14; and 7-8-12. Space constraints here prohibit a full discussion, but lively it would be. Beyond that, think independently about these – and how they’ll affect you (in fact, already are).
And the winners are…
Nobody saw all 14 the way I do, but everyone made interesting connections, and if that’s the way you see it, it’s meaningful and actionable. What’s matters is not if I’m right; it’s if you’re thinking. But kudos to Mike Wilson (Wood Ridge, NJ), Sonia Castillo (Philadelphia, PA), Richard Swanson (Ridgewood, NJ), and Antoinette Worthington (New York, NY) who responded in the order ascribed.
Accolades aside, there’s a fourfold takeaway. First, it’s not just important to be aware of these things; it’s indispensable. Hold them up to the light and you’ll see what I mean. For instance, does anyone really think there are only 118 elements (94 natural, 24 synthesized) in the universe? That’s akin to the apocryphal tale of Charles Duell, commissioner of the US patent office, who said in 1899, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” See where that got him.
Which brings us to the connection among 3, 5, and 14.
Second, keeping up with all this is easier than it seems. Read two great newspapers daily, one comprehensive news magazine weekly, and assorted periodicals (science or business) regularly – not necessarily cover to cover – absorbing as much as possible and stretching a little more.
Third, my answers are not the only right ones, but they make sense to me. If you’ve made other connections that make sense to you, that’s fine. The important thing is that you do it.
Fourth – and here’s the biggest challenge – prepare for your comfort zone to blow up. Thomas Kuhn (1922-1996) said in his widely influential book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962), “Intellectual progress is not steady and gradual. It is marked by sudden paradigm shifts.”
So basic was Kuhn’s thinking, by the way, that the very expression “paradigm shift” – which we use so matter-of-factly – came from this work. (Now you know.)
And it reinforces my point. You need a broad mind to understand a wide world.
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Career Coach Eli Amdur provides one-on-one coaching in job search, résumés, and interviewing.
Reach him at [email protected] or 201-357-5844.