There is a disturbing trend in hiring and leadership. We value “Seniority” (Time Served) over “Adaptability” (Rate of Learning). This is a fatal error in a world where the Half-Life of a skill is now ~3 years.
The “1 Year x 10” Problem
Most “Senior” professionals do not have 10 years of experience. They have 1 year of experience, repeated 10 times.
-
They learned how to do the job in 2015.
-
They have been hitting “Copy/Paste” ever since.
-
They call this “Wisdom.”
-
The market calls it “Obsolescence.”
The Curse of Expertise
When you believe you are an “Expert,” you stop looking for new answers. You defend your old answers.
-
The Expert: “We can’t do that. It didn’t work in 2018.”
-
The Sovereign: “The context has changed. Let’s test it again.”
The Protocol: The White Belt Mindset (Shoshin)
In martial arts, the Black Belt indicates mastery. But true masters know that the goal is to return to the White Belt Mindset (Shoshin). The White Belt is terrified, eager, and open. The White Belt learns.
1. Kill Your Past Stop starting sentences with “In my experience…” Start sentences with “Based on current data…” Your experience is a sunk cost. Use it as a filter, not a wall.
2. The Reverse Mentor If you are over 40, find a 22-year-old mentor.
-
You teach them Strategy.
-
They teach you Speed (and new tools). This is not “charity.” This is survival.
#DhandheKaFunda: Experience is like milk. It has an expiration date. If you don’t refresh it, it sours.