Long ago, on the cusp of commissioning into the Army, we Gentlemen Cadets were given a rare privilege: a final heart-to-heart with our instructors, many of whom were Junior Commissioned Officers and Sergeants with hard-earned combat experience.
One such instructor, a man of few words and deep wisdom, pulled me aside. He knew I was heading to an active border unit. What he shared that day has stayed with me ever since.
“Success in close combat,” he said, “isn’t about textbook tactics. It’s about adapting fast, thinking unconventionally and learning at breakneck speed. Your greatest asset will be intuition and keeping your cognitive cup half empty. The day you stop the feedback loop of listening to your subordinates or peers, believing you’ve seen enough—from that day, your success will depend only on fate.”
Years later, across different roles and difficult situations, I still reflect on that moment: the power of humility, the danger of assumption, and the fine line between presumption and reason.
Daniel J. Boorstin said it best:
“The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance—it is the illusion of knowledge.”
Possibly my biggest learning—and greatest challenge—from that day onwards has been to never let experience close my ears. The moment you stop listening, you stop growing. True leadership isn’t about knowing it all. It’s about staying curious, humble and open.