Wisdom that is Goodenough

No matter your age, we each have twenty-four hours each day to engage in work that matters while serving others.

October 15, 2019

"Some of us are turtles; we crawl and struggle along, and we haven’t maybe figured it out by the time we’re 30. But the turtles have to keep on walking. This crawl through life can be advantageous, particularly if you meander around through different fields, picking up clues as you go along." — Dr. John B. Goodenough

Each of us can obtain a great deal of timeless wisdom from studying the life of Dr. John B. Goodenough. Dr. Goodenough served as a U.S. military meteorologist in World War II before pursuing his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Chicago. He dreamed of inventing things that would help solve the most critical problems in the world. When Dr. Goodenough entered his graduate studies, he was deemed too old. He did not allow naysayers nor societal norms to deter him from following his passion and curiosity. Dr. Goodenough went on to pioneer the development of lithium-ion batteries, a technology that ushered in a revolution in energy storage. His research today has played a significant role in powering our cell phones, laptop computers, and electric cars.

At age 97, Dr. John B. Goodenough remains on the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin and was recently awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his stellar accomplishments in the field of modern battery chemistry. This prestigious honor makes him the oldest Nobel laureate in history.

In 2007, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated, "Young people are just smarter." Many in our society can express a similar mindset. The generalization and confining of the elder's existence, creativity, and contributions hinder communities and organizations from blossoming into their fullest potential. A study done on Nobel physics laureates found that since the 1980's these individuals have made discoveries well into their 50's.

American hotelier, hospitality entrepreneur, and author Chip Conley wrote an outstanding book titled Wisdom At Work: The Making of the Modern Elder. Conley helps us understand how we can keep improving each day while continuing to cultivate our most significant years as we age.

Chip Conley makes an essential distinction between the term elderly — years lived on the planet — and the term elder — what one has done with those years. The former is a classification that is often imposed by external societal values. The latter is our responsibility as we gracefully age. Conley believes every day we must:

  1. Evolve. Reframe the value of your skills and experience, and always re-invent yourself with new ideas.

  2. Learn. Adopt a beginner's mind. Study one thing that you wish you knew. Then become an expert on that subject. Become a "Jeopardy" worthy contestant.

  3. Collaborate. Your wisdom needs to be shared. Age does not mean seniority. Be willing to use your knowledge to help others and always ask for help to learn. Don't fall into the trap of I don't like new technology — embrace the new.

  4. Counsel/Mentor. Help others. Learn from younger generations, and use their knowledge to grow and discover the outer depths of who you are.

Remember, age is mathematics. It is just arithmetic. Just ask Dr. John B. Goodenough, our new hero! No matter your age, we each have twenty-four hours each day to engage in work that matters while serving others. We must live immediately and not squander the remaining moments we have left.

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