Just before I was leaving the Civil Services for my MBA, I went to say farewell to many of the senior folks I knew.
One of them said that he also wanted to attend some program for senior executives at a US university, but only to network, not to learn. He said, “After 25 years of service, what can they teach you? You already know everything.”
I wanted to tell him, “No, you don’t.” But sometimes, wisdom lies in keeping one’s mouth shut.
While I understand that networking is incredibly valuable, I wonder how you become a know-all after 25 years (or even 50 years)!
You become a know-all only when you are no longer open to learning. Even in the corporate world, many people stop learning actively after reaching a certain level.
That is why, it becomes harder to learn as you grow senior — not because your neurons degenerate, but because the cup is already full.
– Rajan