It’s the smartest I’ve ever been. I was a literal treasure trove of information. I was a specialist, a subject-matter authority, and a willing instructor to all who sought my wisdom and expertise. In other words, I was a recent college graduate.

The naiveté of my novice brought both good and bad sides to the table: good because my ideas were fresh and innovative; bad because I was only interested in showing my knowledge of the new without gleaning the knowledge offered by the tried and the tested.

Following a moment of success, it’s easy for our minds to declare us experts and to feel that we are now officially designated by the whole of humankind as the sole authority—and thereby the worthy critic—over all others in that area that we have so skillfully mastered after mere minutes of experience.

But as I age and truly  become a “subject-matter specialist”—after all these years of seeking, trying, hoping, pretending, wishing, and even faking—I see that those who “win” are those who, in their eighties, are still saying, “I have so much to learn.” Those who “win” are those who, in their twenties, thirties, and forties are saying, “I’m smart enough to know that I don’t know everything. Teach me. Let me learn from you. Let me follow in your steps.” Those are the people who are in it for the long haul. Those are the people who, as the well-used expression goes, will have a “long obedience in the same direction.”

Those are the humble learners who are bound for worthy roles of leadership as teachers, business leaders, bloggers with influence, writers whose words make an impact, and speakers whose words inspire long past the conclusion of the seminar.

Those who think themselves to be wise say, “I know.” Those who are truly wise say, “Teach me.”

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“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5, NIV).

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning” (Proverbs 9:9, NIV).

“Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15, NLT).