Experience is a Problem
Posted by Wade on March 25th, 2006
I’m in Chicago attending the NCLR (National Conference of Law Reviews). The purpose of the conference is to bring outgoing editors together with incoming editors in an attempt to provide some type of orientation. The four-day conference is a series of panel discussions in addition to a daily key-note address.
Yesterday, a panelist was presented with a question. During the answer, the panelist made an interesting statement; the statement sums up the problem. The panelist said, “every law review is different, you’ll learn as you go. You’ll find that you are just starting to be effective and be familiar with how to ‘run the show’ just before you graduate”.
In short, it seems just when we feel we understand how things work, it’s time to turn to something else and let someone new step in. I ran into this problem on my mission.
The MTC got me excited about going out and teaching the Gospel. But I soon learned, when I arrived in Colorado, I didn’t know what I was doing. After about 18 months, I felt as though I was starting to understand. I was at the top of my “game” when I left. Why didn’t the MTC prepare me? Why didn’t my mission-prep class prepare me? Why wasn’t my trainer (a very good missionary (zone leader and all)) able to convey what I had when I left?
Isn’t this analogous to life? Those who have lived a long time typically have great insight. But these insights can’t be channeled. Wisdom seems only to come through experience. Wisdom can be shared, but it is only received in the form of abstract ideas. The person receiving the ideas cannot completely acquire them until the same experiences giving rise to the wisdom are experienced.
It is impossible to transmit the understanding necessary to be successful. We struggle until we understand on our own. When we understand, our time in that sphere is over. So, even if understanding from experience could be channeled, there is no time to transmit it anyway.
I’ve always joked about this problem with church callings… as soon as you figure out how to do it really well, you get released.
Of course this presents a incentive problem for apostles… cause typically their release is a consequence of.. well you know.
Comment # 1 left by Ryan on March 25th, 2006
This seems to be the case in nearly every field. I sometimes use a piano player as a clear example. Just reading about how to play the piano will not make you a piano player. A significant amount of experience is the only way to become good at nearly everything.
Comment # 2 left by Eric on March 25th, 2006
Nice post.
BTW, which law school are you at?
Comment # 3 left by Stephen on March 25th, 2006
I have noticed this phenomenon in all areas of life. I spent about 2 months at college where I felt like I knew people, knew how to get stuff done, and was doing well in my classes, then I graduated.
I guess it comes down to the idea that you’re not learning when you don’t stink at what you’re doing.
Ryan, That would be a good idea for Julie’s dark comedy thread at T&S. Some apostle refuses to magnify his calling for fear that if he gets too good at it he’ll get ‘released.’
Comment # 4 left by Starfoxy on March 25th, 2006
Stephen:
Thanks. I’m going to school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.
Comment # 5 left by Wade on March 25th, 2006
Starfoxy:
I guess it comes down to the idea that you’re not learning when you don’t stink at what you’re doing.
Nice way of puting it. I also think it’s important to realize one “stinks”. Without humility, it’s virtually impossible to learn.
Comment # 6 left by Wade on March 25th, 2006