We’ve all had that parent, grandparent, teacher, coach, or other important person who has had a lasting impact on our lives. They may have inspired us or given us a unique perspective on the world. We remember a conversation, a story, a little nugget of wisdom that sticks with us. We think back to that wisdom as we go about our daily lives, or perhaps when we are faced with an important decision to make.

Since 2015, I have taught a course called Learning to Thrive at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. In this course we examine our personal values, beliefs and perspective on life. As part of the course, I ask students to document a set of beliefs and principles that they live their lives by. The students are from all over the world and typically range from their mid-twenties to their mid-thirties. I wanted to understand both what they believed and where these influences came from, and to challenge them to do the same. 

Shared Wisdom is an attempt to understand the influence of others on how we view the world. By understanding our own beliefs and their origins, we can better understand how to make decisions that are consistent with our own values and also recognize when these beliefs may need to be adapted to achieve our full potential. 

Shared Wisdom is an opportunity to share the wisdom we have collected over the years from my students and to provide a vehicle for you to participate in its’ ongoing collection and dissemination.

When you are at a critical decision in your life you can turn to Shared Wisdom for insight. You can use Shared Wisdom as a lens through which to calibrate your own wisdom-based belief system, and as a reference to help you continue to learn and thrive as all of us must.

Prof. Jon Lehman

Welcome to Shared Wisdom. Please explore, share, cogitate and contribute at your leisure.