What I Didn’t Know I Didn’t Know

Maybe you’re a little like me and certain unexpected events bring some unlikely thoughts to the surface.

About 15-years ago, I embarked upon some personal improvement training. It all began when my then Office Manager was persuaded to register for a program that would make her a more effective coach. Diane invited me to join her for the Landmark Forum. I knew I had room for more happiness in my life and there was absolutely no doubt I needed serious work as a leader, so I obliged.

When the 3-day marathon began on Friday morning it was clear to me (with a smirk) why most of my classmates were there. By the time we reached Monday evening and graduation, I’d learned way more about me than I had ever anticipated. For one thing, I realized my only friends shared some DNA or were on the payroll. Hmmm.

During our training, I learned about the three levels of knowledge in leadership. What we know we know. What we know we don’t know. What we don’t know we don’t know.

What we know we know is stuff like our name, where we live, and our occupation. There are other things we know about process and procedures; things upon which we can build. This level occupies a thin slice of the pie. And allow me to share a cautionary tale from Mark Twain and the beginning of the film, The Big Short, “It’s not what you don’t know that gets you in trouble, it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

The second level is What you know you don’t know. I know I’m in the dark when it comes to the physiology of hormones (the H-word can scare me.) I know I don’t know the Krebs Cycle by heart anymore (but I did when I was 20-years old.) And I do know what’s missing that I need to learn to grow and better serve our patients. And there’s nothing better than learning about something together, with your Team, that makes a major difference for others (like sleep disordered breathing awareness and management.)

What you don’t know you don’t know is the third level. We’re in the dark, looking for the light. We know we need to move, change things up; it’s time to take some chances, look and listen for new opportunities. Little kids live in this level of learning; they’re all about curiosity, discovery, imagination, and wonder. This is an awesome zone. And it’s huge.

Since March 12, 2020, my mailing address has existed, virtually of course, in the “I don’t know I don’t know” zone. I’ve had some time to reflect, and for me, revving up the thinking machine can take a while. If you’re a little like me, much of the previously uncharted knowledge tends to emerge in little pieces. Unfortunately for me, most of my discoveries are nowhere near the Holy Grail or Fountain of Youth.

So please join me in a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Third Zone (Thank you, Rod Serling.) During the last year:

“Suddenly and without warning, I learned the vaccination story has become the new middle-aged/old folks version of “What’s your sign?”

I began noticing ESPN 710 radio commercials marketed personal injury and DUI attorneys almost exclusively.

I learned to cut back on my sports listening time…and started reading actual books.

I began implementing powerful quotes to start our daily morning huddle and realized the most powerful seemed to come straight outta the “I didn’t know I didn’t know” zone.

I had a dream where someone was recommending Chlorox and Internal Light medicine…and then suddenly Dr. Deborah Birx was doing a SWA “Want to get away” commercial. I learned not to sip red wine just before bedtime.

I had a birthday and finally understood why I was obsessed with Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn, and Betty White.

I used to think “taking a walk” was strictly a post-op hernia repair exercise. Forgive me. I know better now.

I finally agreed Peloton wasn’t for everyone, but I use it three times a week anyway.

I discovered an amazing neighbor only two blocks away. She’s a top-notch realtor and long-distance walker. I knew I didn’t know every house in Pasadena and didn’t know I didn’t know one day I would.

I discovered “streamimg,” Roku, Charter, and Spectrum are all to service, what Clorox is to medicine.

I dreamed about how oral health could be transformed if teeth could communicate directly to their masters, as in, “Why am I always wearing cottage cheese? BRUSH MEEE…!

I knew I didn’t know how to plant a garden but it’s mostly alive instead of mostly dead. Seriously? Who knew?

I learned Michael Jordan and Stanley Tucci can both make Sundays at 6 PM special.

I knew that I knew over three months to a year away from friends and family can be tough. And I already knew about missing friends and family forever.

What I know that I know is after the past year, my perspective on life has benefitted from a definite upgrade. In our office, our core values are Family, Fun, Empathy, Appreciation, Respect, Love, Enthusiasm, Support, and Service. I won’t give away my favorite because they are all who we are. But I will say I know that I know we’ve all spent some serious time in one another’s shoes.”

And I know that I know,

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

Maya Angelou