The Fear of What I Don’t Know...

Submitted by Sandy Chandler, CPP, LPC
Regional Director, Asset Protection at Rite Aid Corp.

As we all progress through our careers, one thing becomes clearly evident... we don’t know what we don’t know.

If we all knew everything, then we’d all be experts on everything, right? So the challenge or fear that I face is, “What do I not yet know?”

I try to stay current on technology, which is advancing at an exponential rate...

I also read trade journals, attend conferences when I can, read the D & D Daily, watch the new LP News Network videos, read the Loss Prevention Foundation’s newsletters and postings, read the Harvard Business Journal, all in hope of learning something new to help both myself and my team.

One thing I’ve discovered on this journey so far is that we all learn through our mistakes, both personal and professional. Learning through our mistakes makes us wiser, stronger, and more forward thinking. Where we truly gain value is when we take our egos out of the equation and truly analyze what we did right, what we did wrong, and what we could have done differently for a more positive outcome. Sometimes a mistake made is not necessarily a choice that was made, but possibly a choice not made because we’d neglected to gain needed knowledge. So, was it a mistake or just the lack of critical knowledge at that specific time, or both?

I have learned to embrace this concept as I grow. Making mistakes is no longer a fear of mine. The real opportunity is, “What do I still not know?”

How can you bridge this gap in knowledge and experience?

A potential answer... Surround yourself with knowledgeable people!

Choose mentors, peers, and friends that can inspire you to be your very best. These people can assist with discussing new ideas and solving difficult issues in a comfortable manner that elicits honest responses, sound advice, and valuable feedback.

Another thought... Knowledge is power! Sounds kind of corny, but really it’s so true!

I recently started teaching a college night class to stretch myself further. My students (working adults with families) challenge me to be a better educator and a better person. One way we learn is through thought-provoking dialogue and active listening. Being a committed sounding board is a crucial piece to this listening exercise!

There is no obvious answer to solving the dilemma of not knowing what you don’t know. But if we are constantly asking ourselves the right questions while seeking out useful knowledge, we hopefully move one step closer to discovering helpful answers and furthering our careers.

Just a thought...