‘Information is power’, ‘Failing to plan is
planning to fail’
...or
‘Experience is the best teacher’, ‘You don’t
have to be good to start, but you have to start to be good’?
Which is the better philosophy to adopt as an
approach to life. Looking at each of
them separately just might help in choosing a side – if a choice must be made
anyway.
LEARN AS YOU GO
It’s not
rocket science really. Just learning as you move in whatever venture you’re
considering. This principle focuses on the thought that preparing much for
something you want to do or thinking and considering an idea you have, might
actually do more harm than good. How? It advocates that spending time looking
at the different possibilities that could result from embarking on something
you’re interested in, might actually deter you from doing it eventually.
This is true
to a degree. Sometimes, what one was once enthusiastic about, probably a
business idea, an event to organise, a person to meet et cetera, could become
unappealing or in some cases, even dreadful because one has taken time to look
up all the possible ways it could go wrong.
Good
This approach
means that the person gets into his/her interest and most times, has to see it
through to the end. It avoids potential regret such as is the case of people
who left something they considered unviable and later on see the same or a
similar thing being implemented very profitably by another.
Bad
Getting into
something you’re not entirely prepared for can be very overwhelming. Trial and
error methods guarantee a lot of mistakes, many that can be very discouraging.
Experience might be the best, but
certainly not the kindest teacher
GO AS YOU LEARN
Not a
perfect opposite but this school teaches that no amount of time spent on gathering
relevant information on a venture before you get into it, is actually a waste
of time. It advocates that getting into something unprepared is as good as attempting
to cook with only an empty pot and nothing else. And that even if the
ingredients are procured later in the process, the end result might not be as
eventful as timing is as equally essential.
It also
pushes that if one is indeed interested in any idea or venture, he is also
supposed to be able to apprehend whatever he is in for and still be willing to
go through with it.
Good
This approach
ensures that fewer things take you by surprise. You are most likely to be
prepared for whatever you’ll face. Basically that experience is not the best
teacher, but the experiences of others teach better.
Bad
You’re very
likely to be disheartened by the pre-information of the negatives that are associated
with what you’re looking to do. And the fact that theory is different from
practicals. Knowing about something does not entirely guarantee success in or
over it.
You might never really be able to
prepare 100% for something you haven’t experienced before
Learning as
you go doesn’t imply diving headlong into anything without even the faintest
inkling. It just hinges on experience and that experience is information. And going
as you learn doesn’t imply inaction till one is saturated with information
either. But that information smoothens experience.
Which is
more practical? Which is more realistic?
Which would
you follow? Would you even integrate them both?
Do comment
10 comments
Nice one. I prefer learning as I go. Again excellent work.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot... That's one vote for the learn as you go.
DeleteThank you very,very I insightful...
ReplyDeleteGod bless you
Amen... My pleasure indeed. Thanks a lot too
DeleteI prefer learning as i go bro and must have to say keep the good work on 👍👍
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot man. Glad you shared this
DeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteI love your discretion of words.
Thank you very much... It is deeply appreciated
DeleteLearn as u go
ReplyDeleteThat's three votes for learning as you go. Thanks for sharing too
Delete