Standing on the shoulders of giants
I stopped writing articles for a while. I started realizing that every idea I came up with to write about, someone else had written before me, and much better than I could. I realized that the best way for me to articulate something was to borrow language from someone else (who I always quote and give credit where credit is due if I know the origination).
I recently started writing again. I started again because I realized something that was quite humbling. We all stand on the shoulders of giants.
My use of others' information wasn't a bad thing, it is part of what I bring to the table. I do not just regurgitate others' thoughts as my own. Rather, I strive to connect thoughts from multiple authors and speakers, and my own thoughts. This is part of my role as a connector of ideas.
What does a pastor, a shame researcher, a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, and an author/speaker have in common? Read my articles and you will see how I share threads I learn from so many leaders in so many industries and professions.
Therefore, if we all stand on the shoulders of giants, what does this mean for us as we share our thoughts?
First, do not be ashamed if you share someone else's thoughts.
Second, do always give credit for anyone you quote or even paraphrase.
But you don't have to feel shame about building off the ideas of others. Every single person you read or listen to builds off others. They are inspired by the words or actions of someone else and they build upon it by including their own experiences and reflections. It might be a father or mother. It may be an actor or musician they heard growing up. It might be an author or speaker they heard. We all stand on the shoulders of giants and it makes us all just a little bit taller than we were before.
What do you think? How do you see those who share the words of others? Who do you seem to quote or mention most often?
Senior Manager, Learning and Development at Optiv Inc
6 年Hey Tyler Mann! This is fantastic article and I couldn’t agree with you more! With approximately 7.442 billion (with a B) people in the world, how can we not repeat some of the ideas, methodologies and/or thoughts that someone else has already said? To me this is how Learning happens and ultimately how we get better! I consistently reflect on my personal and professional journey and the reason I am where I am today is definitely not just because of me! I’ve taken bits and pieces of everyone I have worked with, talked with and even listened to to formulate my own ideology. I have told so many of my managers that they are responsible for my success because I’ve borrowed many of their thoughts and adapted them to my life and made them my own! As one of my favorite people Brian Owens says, “we all can get better”!
I teach introverts to be better networkers????Get my newsletter with my best networking tips in link below??Founder Retention and Rewards Partners. We solve challenges in Total Rewards, Employee Engagement & HR Strategy
6 年I hear new ideas everyday and I think, how come everyone knows that except for me?? I realize not everyone reads the same things or hears the same quotes.? I share what I hear and read in order to pass it on to the people I know, the people who might benefit from it and who may not have heard it if I hadn't shared it.
Executive Leader * Integrator of People, Ideas, and Systems
6 年Mike O'Connor SPN?- as I wrote this shortly after a video you posted about people imitating/quoting you, I thought you may find this interesting