By Susan Hatten | Account executive, Holmes Murphy

I recently listened to a podcast on wisdom, and what it means during each phase of our personal and professional life journeys. As I have come to learn, certain life patterns, and how we react to and embrace them, can become predictors of our future selves. 

Featured in this podcast was the book “100 Years: Wisdom from Various Writers on Every Year of Your Life,” written by Joshua Prager, where he explores various quotes offered by great writers of history, related to each year of life from birth to 100 years. Prager then takes it a step further, to research correlations between life stages and manifestations through wisdom patterns. I noticed a common vein in the commentary offered by each contributor and other famous quotes on wisdom, regardless of age or life stage — vulnerability.

While “vulnerable” stands to hold a negative connotation — especially as it relates to women and unwelcoming situations, I embrace a view from another vantage point. I see vulnerability as an opportunity to grow professionally and personally, and to learn from others in our sphere of influence. Ultimately, you cannot fully grasp or retain the wisdom bestowed upon you, until you are willing to be permeable and exposed — vulnerable.

It takes strength to allow yourself to be vulnerable, especially when you are striving to prove yourself as a professional, to become validated in your workplace, or to be taken seriously at the board room table. And yet, when you allow yourself to remain open to others’ experiences, learning and lessons, you ultimately are gaining wisdom to add to your very own life-library. As I was recently reminded by a senior leader and mentor, you don’t have to know it all — ever.

I may be acutely sensitive to this topic, as I have recently celebrated a birthday — another year as a pupil of life. I view each birthday as an opportunity to recalibrate, set goals and to give gratitude for being given another year to experience new opportunities and to bask in the wisdom that surrounds us. I am making a conscious effort to allow myself to be more vulnerable so that I may also gain from the acute wisdom of those who lead, mentor, support and challenge me. Rather than trying to know it all, taking time to stop, listen and learn.

You can always learn more, give more, do more, share more. Each year becomes a blank canvas for you to explore what’s inside of you — and to foster the unique abilities that you inherently offer to this world. Equipping yourself with wisdom from others, and being vulnerable to it, may help us all to become the best versions of our unique selves.

Dr. Brene’ Brown is known as an expert thought leader on the state of vulnerability and is quoted in her book, “On The Power of Vulnerability.“ “We associate vulnerability with emotions we want to avoid such as fear, shame and uncertainty. Yet we too often lose sight of the fact that vulnerability is also the birthplace of joy, belonging, creativity, authenticity and love,” she writes.

I fully intend to use the wisdom that I have gleaned and will continue to glean — in a state of intentional vulnerability, to build a colorful quilt of professional experiences, personal milestones, vibrant new adventures and love. To the best of my ability. I challenge you to do the same. 

Susan Hatten is an account executive at Holmes Murphy where she also assists in sales and strategic partnerships. She dedicates much time to community involvement through fundraising and volunteering for several organizations, including Variety – The Children’s Charity, Winefest and the Variety Riverview Park Star Playground campaign. She is a founding member of the Junto Networking group and is an active member in Lead Like A Lady. She was named the 2017Meredith Corp. EmergingBusiness Woman of the Year and a member of the 2011 Forty Under 40 class by the Business Record, dmJuice Young Professional of the Year, Variety’s International Ambassador in 2012 and the Downtown Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year in 2012, among others. Susan is a graduate of Iowa State University. Contact her via email.