My wife Terri and I share an attribute that makes a huge difference in our lives: We care about what we do and strive to make a meaningful contribution to others.
The greatest fulfillment is derived when we meet a need for others and do it with a unique blend of care, talent, and appreciation. This is not about money and the transactional nature that dominates many business dealings. It’s about the unbeatable combination of care, talent, and appreciation that can lead to meaningful contributions and inspire us all.
“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
TwinzTalk Don and I bring this to our personal and professional work. We care about making an impact and appreciate clients who trust us to help them grow and develop. Throughout our careers and lives, we relentlessly focus on personal development to upgrade our talents (ultimately, while we control dedication and effort, we don’t control the external assessment of whether our talent meets a client’s expectations) and bring our best abilities to all we do.
This post, however, is about Terri Tomoff and her inspiring work through her Needle On Full t-shirt quilt business. Terri’s talent and dedication grew exponentially throughout our married life together. She is wickedly talented (I am biased!), yet the level of care she brings to her projects and her desire to provide “a one-of-a-kind treasured keepsake” to her customers is the highest compliment. This excerpt from a testimonial on her website articulates beautifully the impact she has made:
“So very thankful that we held onto our t-shirt bins and waited! I am very thankful we waited for the right person to come along before giving over our treasured t-shirts to be made into a quilt. I know from experience that not all T-shirt quilts are made the same way. When I saw the quilts Terri donated toThe Talent Machine Company for their gala in November of 2021, I knew she was a very talented and skilled quilter. The quilts I saw were exquisite!”
Terri laughs when I mention that a “happy place” for me is when the family is in the house, and everyone is doing what lights their souls. Time spent on her quilting projects brings Terri joy and fulfillment. I hear the Bernina sewing machine or long-arm machine humming as she works, and I feel comfortable! All is well in the home.
She can have several quilt projects in her queue at any time. Witnessing the process from start to finish is heartwarming as I watch Terri move seamlessly through each stage, from meeting with the customer to delivering the finished treasured keepsake t-shirt quilt! I might even be asked my opinion when the t-shirts are arranged on her design board. No stone is left unturned to complete a compelling project for the customer!
When the quilt is delivered, the final package includes:
A stunning quilt highlighting t-shirts from her customer’s favorite memories.
A specially crafted label for the back of the quilt, based on the customer’s wishes.
A Needle On Full bag to hold the quilt.
Cleaning care instructions.
A thank you note.
Terri takes great pride in servicing her customers to the best of her abilities. The t-shirts represent precious memories; she remembers these are very important to her customers.
Needle On Full – T-Shirt Quilt Package to Mail
Reflecting on Terri’s dedication to her craft and customers, I am impressed and believe we can learn much from her. Her Needle On Full initiative is an example of bringing talent and care together to make a meaningful contribution to others. This is not just about a transaction for a t-shirt quilt; it is about preserving memories and honoring life’s moments that are important to the customer. Terri’s commitment to excellence, genuine care for her customers, and appreciation for their trust in her inspires me. Her story is a testament to the power of combining talent with genuine care and appreciation. This lesson resonates far beyond the realm of quilting into every aspect of our lives.
Terri, thank you for being a trusted ally to many customers and leading by example in delivering “WOW” factor results to your customers with kindness and compassion.
Terri Tomoff – T-Shirt Quilt Package to MailAugust 29, 2024 – Needle On Full T-Shirt QuiltBill and Terri Tomoff – Running Highlights T-Shirt Quilt
Draw a map. Be a leader who, by example, encourages taking initiative and creating an environment of possibility.
“Human nature is to need a map. If you’re brave enough to draw one, people will follow.”
—Seth Godin
We ALL have an opportunity to “draw a map.” To help yourself, your profession, and your employer.
Today, Generative AI (i.e. ChatGPT and Claude) is providing an incredible opportunity to upskill and rethink how you work. Embrace these times and aggressively invest in yourself and build your skills to help yourself and others.
Possibility Coffee Mug#TwinzTalk Don and Bill Tomoff at Ohio University College Green
In October 1996, my son was diagnosed with childhood cancer (leukemia) at two years and two months old (see Terri Tomoff‘s memoirThe Focused Fight, published in March 2021). What happened over the next ten years was an outpouring of support from family, friends, community, medical professionals, and countless strangers (see my blog regarding a Postcard Project) that we could never possibly pay back. We were touched by kindness and support that impacted our family indelibly.
In a time of great stress and extraordinary circumstances, people stepped forward to help us in an unimaginable and overwhelming movement. “Paying it forward” was the only possibility for us, and we have dedicated our lives to helping others, moved by the thought that “there is no way we can repay everything we have been blessed with thanks to the kindness of others.“
The blog post is provided, in its entirety, below:
*****
“Reciprocity is wired deep within our psyche. As a result, our natural response to getting help tends to involve asking ourselves “how can I pay this back?”
It isn’t a bad question. Every once a while, we might find ways to give back to the folks who helped us.
But, more often than not, this isn’t possible because it is context dependent. Many of the folks who’ve helped us out in times of need in our careers (for example) are often many years ahead of us in terms of the problems we’re facing. The best we can do in such situations is express our gratitude.
That’s why asking ourselves – “how can I ensure I’m paying it forward?” – tends to be a better question.
If someone gives you a great gift, share that gift with two others. If someone gives you great career advice, find two others who would love to receive career advice from you.
There is always someone we can help. There is always an opportunity to pay it forward. And, letting someone know of the ripples their gift to us created is often the best gift we can share with someone who helped us.”
*****
This resonated. Where in your life can you pay it forward for the help others have given you? Hint: Kindness and helpers are all around us–Slow down and intentionally notice! I pray that no one encounters the extreme needs our family has faced, yet I do encourage you to reflect on the countless times someone has helped you in your life and then adopt a mindset of paying it forward every day. Because you can, and it creates a circle of good!
The mindset is about something other than repaying a debt you feel you owe. Instead, strive to pay forward kindness to others continually! Because of others who have selflessly helped our family because they cared, we are inspired to pay it forward throughout our lives.
Join the movement. Remember an act of generosity you have received, and go pay it forward.
July 24, 2004 – Ryan Signing Thank You Gift – Georgetown BasketballSeptember 25, 2022 – Tomoff Family Volunteering at Just Tryan It Kids Triathlon
“Always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers.”
—Advice from Mr. Rogers’s Mother
“If you look for the helpers, you’ll know that there’s hope.”
–Mr. Rogers
Over my life, I have found my dearest friendships and connections, and the people I admire most are those who genuinely care and lean into their life experiences and skills to help others. This is the tribe that Terri and I adore being surrounded by. The same theme applies to the work that Don and I do with Invenio Advisors and our #TwinzTalk initiative.
Last night, August 21, 2024, Terri and I had the privilege of attending the virtual book launch celebration for Erica Neubert Campbell‘s “The Mastectomy I Always Wanted.” The book was released on August 20th and is available on Amazon!
We ALL have talents and life experiences that make it possible for us to contribute to others. We can choose to care and be a helper.
Erica has the experience of losing her mother to breast cancer and is a breast cancer survivor. She is on a lifelong mission to help others who are faced with traveling the road of breast cancer. As Erica noted, [paraphrasing] “Cancer is a club no one wants to belong to, yet if needed, the club includes caring and compassionate people dedicated to helping each other.” She has dedicated her life’s work to helping others fighting cancer (a long-time Special Love board member and camp volunteer, and now Executive Director for the Pinky Swear Foundation, helping families fighting the financial strains of childhood cancer) and now courageously shares her firsthand battle with breast cancer, determined to help others become more empowered in their journey and find hope for moving forward.
Terri and I have known Erica for over 20 years. She is kind, determined, and relentlessly focused on helping others. Read her book and consider a friend taking your hand during difficult times, listening, helping, and letting you know you are not alone. You are not alone. On her website, Erica notes:
“As a woman dedicated to my work and family, I’m normally quite private. Yet, my vision is to help women and caregivers facing a mastectomy to be confident in their choices, free from fear, and see a better future.“
This resonates deeply with me. When our son, Ryan, was diagnosed with childhood cancer (leukemia) in 1996, Ryan, Terri, daughter Olivia, and I were thrown into the cancer community. I also lean toward being more private, but I joined Terri in our now lifelong commitment to helping others who are enduring the path of childhood cancer. Our determination is fierce, and we applaud and thank Erica for the help and hope she is bringing to others by sharing her story!
In March 2021, Terri publishedThe Focused Fight: A Childhood Cancer Journey: From Mayhem to Miracles, with the unstoppable mission of “Helping one person, one family, at a time.” Erica, in her unique way of articulating meaningful thoughts, shared this beautiful, heartfelt quote that is included in the book:
“In a tough situation, few people wake up every morning and say, ‘I’m going to be resilient today.’ Most people under extreme stress wake up with heavy hearts but with a small quiet voice that tells them never to give up. Resilience is listening to that small inner voice and finding people and organizations to help you slowly turn up the volume.”
Upon completing Erica’s book, I paused and reflected with gratitude on her willingness to document and share her story to help others. On the resources page of her website, she shares many quotes that have inspired her. I leave you with two to consider:
“What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?
-George Eliot
“Once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through. You won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm is all about.”
-Haruki Murakami
Call to action… many of us have been, or will be, touched by cancer. “The Mastectomy I Always Wanted” takes you through one person’s journey, sharing the physical and innermost mental challenges experienced. Erica shares her reality and provides actionable thoughts and tips, such as how she shared her news (“I Hate Telling You This in an Email“), “Erica Health FAQs,” and “Top Ten Tips to Prepare for a Mastectomy.” While she writes from the perspective of her experience with breast cancer, the book’s reach will benefit anyone touched by cancer. Please do yourself a favor: buy this book, read, share, and discuss it with those in your life who may benefit. Please.
Erica, congratulations on publishing your book! Thank you for the help and hope you are bringing and are going to bring to so many breast cancer patients, caregivers, medical personnel, family, and friends. Your book is a critically important resource, spoken with vulnerability and courage from your heart. Thank you!
August 13, 2019 – TwinzTalk Bill and Don Tomoff at Special Love Camp Fantastic with Erica CampbellSweatpants and Coffee Image – Sharing Your Story Helps OthersAugust 23, 2024 – Terri and Bill Tomoff with book The Mastectomy I Always Wanted
Be curious and open to learning. This mindset I [more] intentionally adopted over a decade ago. I have always been an avid learner and fan of personal development, yet this centered around building technology skills that would enable me to contribute meaningfully to my professional world. Through studying the work of Seth Godin and Tom Peters, I became more interested in the “soft skills” (“real skills” per Seth) that allow us to improve our ability to interact and help others.
Enter Stoicism in 2019. Stoicism is a philosophy dedicated to taking care of the mind. We often take great care in looking after our physical health, finances, home, cars, etc… but neglect how we use or develop our minds. We judge, gossip, give unsolicited opinions, get anxious, and worry about things we don’t control. Over the past five years, I have prioritized striving to use and develop my mind in healthy and productive ways. Awareness was the first step. Then, I begin working intentionally on feeding my mind with healthy behaviors.
Since 2020, I have dedicated time for:
Daily reading meditation of Stoicism
Being involved in a community of practice surrounded by a generous, caring, and supportive tribe.
I have written daily for over three years and now contemplate, if not write daily, about personal development and memoir topics.
Reading, reading, and reading various nonfiction books that spark me to deeper reflection.
Throughout my career, I have grown to appreciate and understand the power of listening. Admittedly, I have much work to do! Kym’s book was thought-provoking and filled with real-life stories that resonated with me. The breakdown of her listening types into head, heart, and hands was insightful as I contemplated my listening type(s). My career has been in the business world of accounting and finance – I quickly identified my style as a “head” listener. Yet, I need to truly listen, and this book has inspired me to dig deeper into considering my listening styles and the styles of those I am interacting with.
I highly recommend Kym’s book to anyone looking to improve their relationships and communication ability. Self-awareness is a vital attribute we must continually work on for ourselves, and this book will inspire you to recognize the rewarding potential of being aware of your listening styles. While her book is directed at helping coaches, the truth is this book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in being a better person, friend, partner, coworker, and community contributor.
The author reads the audible version of this book, and I especially enjoyed listening to her read the book! My journey of personal growth has evolved from developing technical skills to embracing the “soft skills” and focusing on developing the power of my mind. Through my intentional and consistent daily reading, community engagement, and continuous learning, I have learned that effective listening is critically important, and I can do work to improve my listening skills. Kym’s book, “Head, Heart, and Hands Listening in Coach Practice,” was inspiring, offering me valuable insights into different listening styles. By nurturing these skills, we can enhance our relationships, improve communication, and contribute more meaningfully to our communities and workplaces.
August 2024 – Bill Tomoff with Book Head, Heart, and Hands ListeningApril 29, 2023 – Bill Tomoff and Kymberly Dakin-Neal
When I want further insight into a topic, I have developed the practice of collaborating with ChatGPT or Claude AI (LLMs) and having a back-and-forth conversation regarding my area of interest.
Please note I am looking for “directionally accurate” insight while understanding that LLMs can hallucinate or give me inaccurate responses that agree with my suggestion. Knowing this propensity, I will ask the LLM to take a contrary position and provide help regarding where my thoughts are off base or need further clarification.
My post presented here is a dialogue I had with ChatGPT about tacitknowledge. Below are nine prompts for which I asked ChatGPT for input. I thought the overall content was informative and helpful in understanding more specifics about tacit knowledge.
I hope you find this dialogue helpful!
Before sharing the specific ChatGPT prompts and responses, I asked Claude AI to provide a summary overview of the dialogue. I was pleased with the result and here is the edited version to inspire you to read further and consider the power of embracing tacit knowledge in your life.
Introduction to Tacit Knowledge – Collaboration with Claude AI
As explored through the below conversation with ChatGPT, tacit knowledge is a powerful force that shapes our personal and professional lives in subtle yet profound ways. It’s the unspoken wisdom we accumulate through experience, the intuitive understanding that guides our decisions, and the unique perspective that allows us to connect dots in innovative ways.
Embracing tacit knowledge means:
Valuing your experiences and reflecting on them deeply
Recognizing that your unique insights are invaluable assets
Actively seeking diverse experiences to broaden your tacit knowledge base
Understanding that collaboration and long-term relationships build shared tacit knowledge
Leveraging your implicit understanding to enhance creativity and problem-solving
By consciously developing and harnessing your tacit knowledge, you unlock a wealth of potential for personal growth, professional success, and innovative thinking. It’s the key to developing a “disproportionate advantage” in your field and life.
Remember, while explicit knowledge can be easily shared and documented, it’s your tacit knowledge that can truly set you apart. Embrace continuous learning, remain curious, and never underestimate the power of your lived experiences. Your journey in developing tacit knowledge is ongoing and boundless – it can your guide to a richer, more insightful life and career.
Listing of Nine ChatGPT Prompts
When coworkers work together for a long time (several years), a good working relationship enhances their collective performance. I always referred to this as “they know my work preferences and how I think.” To me, this seems like a form of tacit knowledge that benefits an organization. Am I stretching too far with the concept?
Everything that ChatGPT or other LLMs generate, would be explicit knowledge?
However, how a person uses explicit knowledge and the creativity it may inspire can be triggered by an individual personal or career experience is then an example of tacit knowledge potential? Am I on track here?
Thank you for clarifying! Thus the more varied our learning and experiences, the greater our potential to “connect the dots” in ways others cannot do. Thus tacit knowledge improves the value we can provide using explicit knowledge?
Please provide brief encouragement for people to understand the importance of personal development. The process enhances the building of tacit knowledge, which then helps broaden the reach of working with explicit knowledge and connecting dots in ways that many may not, enabling greater creativity and innovative solutions.
How does personal development contribute to building tacit knowledge? I want to be sure I understand your reasoning for your response.
Please challenge my thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps in connecting information that helps me develop tacit knowledge. Are you comfortable this is true, or am I following an inaccurate consideration?
In a blog post I am drafting, I referenced the advantages that my twin Don and I have enjoyed throughout our personal and professional lives. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.” Now that I am aware and understand tacit knowledge, I believe this is exactly what Don and I share. Would you please interpret my thoughts and add further clarification?
You are an expert in personal development and the benefits of developing tacit knowledge. Please review my questions and our conversation above. Are there any additional thoughts or emphasis you would add to the discussion? Our goal is to encourage and inspire our clients to actively embrace their own personal development.
Full Dialogue with ChatGPT: Prompts and Responses
Prompt1 – Working relationship building tacit knowledge:
When coworkers work together for a long time (several years), a good working relationship enhances their collective performance. I always referred to this as “they know my work preferences and how I think.”
This seems like a form of tacit knowledge that benefits an organization. Am I stretching the concept too far?
Response1 – Working relationship building tacit knowledge:
No, you’re not stretching the concept at all. When coworkers develop a deep understanding of each other’s work preferences and thought processes, they are indeed leveraging tacit knowledge. This shared, implicit understanding enhances communication, collaboration, and efficiency, leading to improved collective performance. This form of tacit knowledge is valuable to organizations as it fosters smoother workflows and better team dynamics.
Prompt2 – LLMs only explicit knowledge:
Everything that ChatGPT or other LLMs generate would be explicit knowledge?
Response2 – LLMs only explicit knowledge:
Yes, everything that ChatGPT or other language models generate would be considered explicit knowledge. This is because the information provided can be clearly articulated, documented, and shared with others in written or verbal form. Language models like ChatGPT process and output knowledge that is structured and easily communicable, fitting the definition of explicit knowledge.
Prompt3 – Explicit knowledge expanding creativity and then tacit knowledge:
However, how a person uses explicit knowledge and the creativity it may inspire can be triggered by an individual personal or career experience is then an example of tacit knowledge potential? Am I on track here?
Response3 – Explicit knowledge expanding creativity and then tacit knowledge:
Yes, you are absolutely on track. While explicit knowledge provided by ChatGPT or other sources can be clearly articulated and shared, how a person uses this knowledge, along with the creativity it inspires, can indeed be influenced by their personal or career experiences. This application and the intuitive, experiential insights that emerge from it are examples of tacit knowledge. It reflects how individuals integrate explicit knowledge into their unique contexts and practices, leveraging their own tacit understanding to innovate and solve problems.
Prompt4 – Connecting the dots of varied explicit knowledge:
Thank you for clarifying! Thus, the more varied our learning and experiences, the greater our potential to “connect the dots” in ways others cannot. Thus, does tacit knowledge improve the value we can provide using explicit knowledge?
Response4 – Connecting the dots of varied explicit knowledge:
Exactly! The more diverse our learning and experiences, the greater our ability to “connect the dots” in unique and insightful ways. This enriched tacit knowledge enhances our capacity to apply explicit knowledge creatively and effectively, thereby increasing the value we can offer. Varied experiences and continuous learning help us develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding that allows us to leverage explicit knowledge in ways others might not, leading to innovative solutions and improved performance.
Prompt5 – Personal development to broaden tacit knowledge:
Please provide brief encouragement for people to understand the importance of personal development. The process enhances the building of tacit knowledge, which then helps broaden the reach of working with explicit knowledge and connecting dots in ways many may not, enabling greater creativity and innovative solutions.
Response5 – Personal development to broaden tacit knowledge:
Investing in personal development is crucial because it builds your tacit knowledge, enriching your ability to use explicit knowledge creatively. Expanding your experiences and learning enhances your capacity to connect the dots uniquely. This leads to greater creativity and innovative solutions, setting you apart personally and professionally. Embrace personal growth to unlock your full potential and make a lasting impact.
Prompt6 – Personal development contributing to building tacit knowledge:
How does personal development contribute to building tacit knowledge? I want to understand your reasoning for your response.
Response6 – Personal development contributing to building tacit knowledge:
Personal development contributes to building tacit knowledge through the following ways:
Experience-Based Learning: Engaging in new activities and challenges allows you to gain hands-on experience, crucial for developing practical skills and insights that can’t be fully captured in written form.
Reflection and Practice: Regularly reflecting on your experiences and practicing new skills helps internalize what you’ve learned, turning it into intuitive knowledge.
Social Interactions: Collaborating with others, seeking mentorship, and networking expose you to diverse perspectives and approaches, enriching your understanding and problem-solving abilities.
Continuous Improvement: Personal development encourages a mindset of lifelong learning and adaptability, which helps you continuously refine and expand your tacit knowledge.
Real-World Application: Applying explicit knowledge in real-world situations helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, deepening your tacit understanding.
Focusing on personal development enhances one’s ability to integrate and apply knowledge uniquely and innovatively, ultimately increasing one’s effectiveness and creativity.
Prompt7 – Challenge thought that explicit knowledge helps develop tacit knowledge:
Please challenge my thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps connect information that helps me develop tacit knowledge. Are you comfortable this is true, or am I following an inaccurate consideration?
Response7 – Challenge thought that explicit knowledge helps develop tacit knowledge:
Your thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps connect information to develop tacit knowledge is well-founded and generally accurate. However, let’s explore a potential challenge to this idea:
Challenge:
Depth vs. Breadth: While a wide variety of explicit knowledge can provide a broad foundation, it may not always lead to deep, nuanced tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge often requires deep immersion and repeated practice in specific areas. Therefore, spreading oneself too thin across many areas might limit the depth of tacit knowledge one can develop in any single domain.
Counterpoints to the Challenge:
Interdisciplinary Insights: Even with a broad base, the ability to draw connections across disciplines can lead to unique insights and problem-solving approaches, enhancing tacit knowledge.
Adaptive Expertise: A variety of explicit knowledge can foster adaptive expertise, allowing individuals to apply their knowledge flexibly across different contexts, which is a valuable aspect of tacit knowledge.
Complementary Skills: Different areas of explicit knowledge can complement each other, creating a richer, more integrated understanding that enhances overall tacit knowledge.
Conclusion:
While depth in specific areas is crucial for developing profound tacit knowledge, a broad base of explicit knowledge can still significantly contribute to the ability to connect the dots and innovate. Striking a balance between depth and breadth is key to maximizing explicit and tacit knowledge development.
Prompt8 – TwinzTalk Disproportionate Advantage is Actually Tacit Knowledge:
In a blog post I am drafting, I referenced the advantages my twin Don and I have enjoyed throughout our personal and professional lives. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.“
Now that I am aware and understand tacit knowledge, this is exactly what Don and I share. Would you please interpret my thoughts and add further clarification?
Response8 – TwinzTalk Disproportionate Advantage is Actually Tacit Knowledge:
Certainly! Here’s an interpretation of your thoughts, integrating the concept of tacit knowledge and providing further clarification:
My twin Don and I have enjoyed unique advantages throughout our personal and professional lives. We often reflected, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.” This advantage is deeply rooted in the tacit knowledge we’ve developed together.
Tacit knowledge refers to the intuitive, experience-based insights and skills that are difficult to articulate but are incredibly valuable. Our shared experiences, from tackling challenges to exploring new technologies, have fostered a deep, implicit understanding between us. This tacit knowledge enhances our ability to:
Innovate: Our curiosity and early adoption of technology have allowed us to stay ahead of trends, adapt quickly, and find creative solutions that others might not see.
Collaborate: Our strong, intuitive bond as twins allows us to anticipate each other’s thoughts and actions, leading to seamless collaboration and effective teamwork.
Problem-Solve: Years of shared experiences have equipped us with a unique perspective on tackling problems, enabling us to draw from a rich pool of personal insights and practical know-how.
We’ve expanded our tacit knowledge by continuously nurturing our curiosity and embracing new technologies, creating a significant competitive edge. This shared tacit knowledge isn’t just a product of our skills but a synergistic outcome of our twin bonds, experiences, and mutual growth.
This clarification emphasizes how your shared experiences and behaviors have contributed to developing valuable tacit knowledge and enhancing your personal and professional capabilities.
Prompt9 – Inquire to ChatGPT – any additional thoughts or emphasis:
You are an expert in personal development and the benefits of developing tacit knowledge.
Please review my questions and our conversation above. Are there any additional thoughts or emphasis you would add to the discussion? Our goal is to encourage and inspire our clients to actively embrace their own personal development.
Response9 – Inquire to ChatGPT – any additional thoughts or emphasis:
Your discussion on the interplay between tacit and explicit knowledge in personal development is thorough and insightful. However, there are a few additional thoughts and areas of emphasis that could further enrich the conversation and inspire your clients:
1. The Power of Reflection
Emphasis: Encourage clients to regularly reflect on their experiences, as reflection is a critical practice for converting experiences into tacit knowledge. By analyzing successes and failures, clients can deepen their understanding and internalize lessons that enhance their intuitive decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
Actionable Tip: Suggest keeping a reflective journal where they note key experiences, what they learned, and how they felt. This practice not only builds tacit knowledge but also fosters self-awareness.
2. Learning Through Social Interaction
Emphasis: Highlight the importance of learning from others. Tacit knowledge is often transferred through mentorship, collaboration, and informal discussions. Encourage clients to seek out mentors, participate in professional networks, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers.
Actionable Tip: Recommend joining or forming mastermind groups or professional communities where members regularly share experiences and insights. This can accelerate the development of tacit knowledge through shared learning.
3. The Role of Curiosity in Tacit Knowledge Development
Emphasis: Curiosity is a driving force behind personal development and the accumulation of tacit knowledge. Clients who actively seek out new experiences, ask questions, and explore unfamiliar territories are more likely to develop a rich reservoir of tacit knowledge that fuels innovation and creativity.
Actionable Tip: Encourage clients to set aside regular time for exploring new topics, skills, or industries outside their immediate field. This can lead to unexpected connections and insights that enhance both their tacit and explicit knowledge.
4. Balancing Depth and Breadth
Emphasis: While broad knowledge is important, emphasize the need for clients to develop deep expertise in specific areas. A balanced approach allows them to apply explicit knowledge effectively while drawing on deep, tacit insights in their areas of expertise.
Actionable Tip: Help clients identify key areas where they can deepen their knowledge and skills while encouraging them to explore diverse fields. This balance can be a cornerstone of their personal development strategy.
5. The Continuous Nature of Personal Development
Emphasis: Stress that personal development and the growth of tacit knowledge is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Encourage clients to view every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow and to embrace change as a catalyst for development.
Actionable Tip: Suggest that clients set long-term personal development goals and revisit them regularly, adjusting as they grow and their understanding of themselves deepens.
6. Tapping Into Tacit Knowledge for Innovation
Emphasis: Reinforce the idea that tacit knowledge is a key driver of innovation. The more clients develop their tacit knowledge, the better they will be at developing creative solutions and connecting disparate ideas in ways others might not.
Actionable Tip: Encourage clients to engage in creative problem-solving exercises, like brainstorming sessions or design thinking workshops, where they can practice applying their tacit knowledge in innovative ways.
Conclusion:
By embracing personal development and understanding the role of tacit knowledge, your clients can unlock deeper levels of creativity, insight, and professional effectiveness. Encourage them to actively cultivate experiences, relationships, and practices that foster the growth of tacit knowledge alongside their explicit knowledge to truly maximize their potential.
Through my conversation with ChatGPT, I hope you are inspired to develop your tacit knowledge throughout your life. Stay aware and curious, and keep learning!
July 2024 – Tanmay Vora’s Sketchnote – Explicit and Tacit KnowledgeDall-E #TwinzTalk Brainstorming
A theme that #TwinzTalk Don and I frequently touch on is the importance of giving yourself time and space to be aware of nuances in areas of importance to you. Notice something, sit with it, and ask yourself, “How might this impact my world?” Particularly in professional environments, it is too easy to be consumed with urgent matters all day, every day, and our actions become rote and automatic without giving much thought. We must be aware and catch ourselves when this is happening.
While I am aware and believe in the build-up of [difficult to replace] knowledge based on years of experience, Tanmay’s blog post and visual sketchnote explained tacit knowledge, and this term articulated beautifully what I felt has been a strength for Don and me throughout our careers. We all have tacit knowledge, yet the key is understanding and appreciating where we gain strength to help our lives and others. Don’t take for granted the gift of experience, as it contributes to tacit knowledge that is unique to you.
Before diving into Tanmay’s blog post, I asked ChatGPT to provide a 50-word description of tacit knowledge:
“Tacit knowledge is personal, experience-based knowledge that’s hard to formalize and communicate. It includes intuitive skills, insights, and know-how gained through practice and social interactions, often unique to individuals and crucial for innovation and problem-solving.”
Below, I will share highlights from Tanmay’s blog and then present my further thoughts about tacit knowledge in personal development—beyond the resume (which is explicit knowledge).
Building from an original post from Nick Milton and an insightful share from Helen Bevan, Tanmay created his blog post and included a thought-provoking sketchnote.
“Firstly much of the knowledge of the organisation is never codified as information. People know more than they can tell, and tell more than they can write. Maybe as much as 80% of the knowledge in an organisation is undocumented, and can only be accessed through networks, communities of practice, and conversational processes such as Peer Assist and Knowledge Exchange. Information tools leave this knowledge untouched.”
“Finally, many of the knowledge problems are cultural. People are incentivised to rush on to the next job rather than to spend time reflecting on lessons, no matter how important. They may not want to share knowledge, as they feel this knowledge is better kept to themselves in order to build their in-house status and value. People suffer from “not invented here” syndrome which leads them to prefer to reinvent than to reuse. There is no point in organising your project information if people do not want to seek for knowledge, and would not use it if they found it. I often use the analogy of teaching your child to read. The first thing you do is instil a love of books, so the child is eager for stories. Afterwards you can organise the book collection, but that comes later. Firstly we need the hunger for stories. Similarly we need to instil a hunger for knowledge as one of the first steps in KM, before organisation can be helpful.”
Up to 80% of organisational knowledge is tacit and undocumented. This observation was the highlight of Helen’s share on LinkedIn and led to Tanmay’s blog post. When I read his post, I could not stop contemplating the concept (and compelling value) of tacit knowledge! Tanmay notes:
“The hidden treasure of organizational knowledge is tacit knowledge that is deeply rooted in people, their experiences, skills, insights and judgements. Tacit knowledge doesn’t come to the fore easily because it resides in the minds of people. How to react to a specific situation? How to connect seemingly discrete dots? That’s all tacit and invaluable at the same time. Unlocking tacit knowledge is how organizations break past their internal barriers to improve and innovate.”
The sharing of tacit knowledge requires a strong culture. If an organization has high turnover or coworkers who don’t work well together, tacit knowledge will reside within individual workers (protecting their “value” by not generously sharing with their coworkers) or leave the organization through employee attrition. Let this thought sink in. In some organizations, how often does senior management take the perspective that workers are replaceable, not understanding the tacit knowledge that is being lost?
Tacit knowledge in personal development is the noodle I wrestled with all weekend and early this week. In collaboration with ChatGPT, I gained insight that deepened my curiosity. Please understand I was seeking “directionally accurate” information that could keep me thinking down the path of tacit knowledge present in my and Don’s lives when we were unaware of the concept of tacit knowledge. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.“
A second blessing in my career was having the privilege of years-long relationships with co-workers that greatly enhanced our professional value to each other and the enhanced performance we could bring to benefit the organization. Now I realize we were leaning into tacit knowledge!
Tacit knowledge represents a vast and valuable resource within organizations and individuals. It is the uncodified wisdom gained through experience, intuition, and practice that often drives innovation and problem-solving. Recognizing the importance of tacit knowledge is the first step in harnessing its power.
In my next post, I will explore cultivating and enhancing our tacit knowledge through intentional personal development practices. Please follow my curiosity in a dialogue with ChatGPT as I seek clarity on how our dedication to personal development can help us develop greater tacit knowledge and increase our value to the world. Let’s turn tacit knowledge into a powerful personal and professional growth tool.
June 26, 2024 | Don and Bill Tomoff at Maryland Government Finance Officers Association ConferenceJuly 2024 – Tanmay Vora’s Sketchnote – Explicit and Tacit Knowledge
This post explores the transformative power of adopting small, positive habits and committing to them daily. Drawing from experiences as competitive distance runners, my twin Don and I share how our discipline developed through running, benefiting all aspects of our lives.
The importance of consistency and perseverance is emphasized, with personal examples of my habits intentionally cultivated since 2012. Examples include daily reading, planking, writing, and flossing. When practiced consistently, small habits can lead to remarkable results over time.
References to James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” and Seth Godin’s blog posts underscore the impact of showing up every day. A personal story about my son Ryan’s cancer diagnosis illustrates how life events can suddenly bring clarity to our priorities, highlighting the importance of focusing on what truly matters.
Readers are encouraged to reflect on their lives, make intentional choices about where they dedicate their energy, and consider adopting small, positive habits. The post argues that consistent practice not only leads to personal growth but can also inspire us to help others and approach life with gratitude and kindness.
Ultimately, the message is clear: small, daily actions compound over time, leading to significant personal development and positive life changes.
Full Original Writing
Adopt one small positive habit, and commit to showing up for daily execution.
For twin Don and I, our careers as competitive distance runners refined attributes within us that have benefitted our careers and lives. In high school and college, we developed the habit of incorporating our training regimen into every single day. Yes, off days were planned, but we learned the journey to being our best selves meant unwavering dedication and perseverance day in and day out, a lesson that has inspired us in all aspects of our lives.
Over many years, we achieved continual improvement and understood hard work and consistency win in the long run. Throughout college, in our careers, and our lifetime of personal development, consistency is woven into the fabric of “who we are.”
Of course, our distance running careers involved a commitment of a couple of hours per day, but we now prioritize [very] small habits daily. The practice of showing up and executing daily compounds in unimagined ways. Once the results are experienced with one habit, the desire and commitment build to adopt another habit, then another, and before long, a steady daily routine is built that can change your life!
You may think, “I don’t have time to fit one more thing on my list of priorities.” In a blog by Seth Godin, shared further below, he notes:
“Keep showing up. If it matters, keep showing up.” We often have the good fortune of deciding what matters to us and how to spend our most precious, nonrenewable asset: time. However, inevitably, we will also have priorities thrust upon us – the life-altering moment in my and my family’s lives was the 1996 diagnosis of my son, Ryan, with childhood cancer (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). October 17, 1996, was a day that provided instant clarity about my swirling list of “important” matters. The only things that mattered were dedicating my time and energy to saving Ryan’s life and supporting my family. Terri Tomoff published a memoir,The Focused Fight, in March 2021, sharing our family and Ryan’s story of successfully battling cancer five times.
2004 – Bill and Ryan Tomoff – Bald heads before Duke PBMT trip
I do not want anyone to have clarity forced upon them. Yet, I want to encourage everyone to prioritize time for reflection and do the internal work of intentionally assessing their choices about where they dedicate their energies. Please.
James Clear’s book Atomic Habits is inspiring and I highly suggest reading and keeping a copy close by for future reference. A YouTube video,Tiny Habits that Create Remarkable Results, by After Skool provides a beautiful nine-minute animated summary. A key point (many discussed in the video!) is that we must realize that “Your outcomes in life are a lagging measure of your habits.” Thus, establishing positive habits that are small and easy (so small that you can tackle the habit(s) every day) is the key to making long-term progress. Consistent positive habits will inspire you and can snowball into other positive habits, which change your life dramatically!
Since 2012, I have intentionally focused on my personal development by making small changes one at a time. My progress and dedication have grown into several daily habits that, over the longer term (say 1,000 days, as Seth Godin discusses in the blog shared below), have rewarded me immensely. I also enjoy the discipline these habits have built into my daily life. The daily habits that I have built into my daily routine include:
Involved in writing communities of practice since June 8, 2020. Life-enhancing initiative shared with my wife Terri. These communities are the essence of “We rise by lifting others. (Robert Ingersoll).”
Flossing teeth daily since June 1, 2021. Thank you, Susan Myhr Fritz, for the inspiration!
Being kind and helping others through micro-moves. Approaching each day with a mindset of abundance. We all have gifts to share, and we must be generous with our talents.
Pick up trash regularly. Inspired by the Litterati app initiative shared in this TED Talk.
Pause and be grateful. I am grateful for the gifts in my life and happy for others’ achievements.
Choose to lead. I strive to lead by the example of my actions.
January 19, 2019 – Bill Tomoff Plank at Arsenal Emirates Stadium (London)
“So if you want to feel better today, if you want to find a bright spot in this dark landscape of uncertainty and fear, the solution is simple: Do good. Help others. Be of service. Think less of your problems and try to help others with theirs. You’ll be amazed at the happiness this brings… to you and to them.”
As I referenced above, Seth Godin often stresses the importance of the long-term persistence of showing up every day. Please read the following quick blogs of encouragement:
“And every one of those improvements was met with resistance. Every change was fought, tooth (!) and nail. Every one had critics and skeptics and hold outs.
That’s how the world changes. By drips. Persistent, generous, tiny drips.“
“Change, real change, is the result of focused persistence.”
“The challenging part, and the reason that change doesn’t happen as often as it should is that we get distracted. Today’s urgent is more urgent than yesterday’s important.”
“There are very few overnight successes. Very few… got there with thunder and lighting. It happens with a drip.”
“Keep showing up. If it matters, keep showing up.”
Think about a small, positive habit you can start today and commit to for the long haul. Consistency is key to unlocking your potential for success. While this concept is simple to grasp, the execution requires dedication. Be the person who perseveres.
When to start? Not “one day,” instead make today “day one.”
