Needing to "Prove" yourself versus wanting to "Improve" yourself?

I was just listening to a Podcast by a well known hospitality executive and famous "Mintern"at Air BNB, Chip Conley. The gist of the podcast to me was all about generational participation, and why older and younger entrepreneurs need to collaborate together more frequently. At one point Chip Conley is asked "what do you think that you taught Brian Chesky, and what did he teach you as a "Mintern" at AirBNB"?

His answer (paraphrase): "I think that I taught Brian how to actively listen better, and I think Brian taught me why to stay inquisitive and keep learning from younger people".

Knowledge speaks - Wisdom listens

"The physics of wisdom work in both directions". Not because (older = wiser) or that (younger = smarter), but because the better listening gives strength to young knowledge, and staying inquisitive adds value to older wisdom. So, what's my point?

As you try to build a team, a company, a culture you too will hopefully learn that it's not just about proving yourself, but more so, it's about surrounding yourself with smart people and embracing the idea that you're not the smartest person in the room every time. This is what effective listening is about and what staying inquisitive is about. Both are wildly empowering for your team as you slowly realize that "proving" is no where near as important as "improving". This gets back to collaborative velocity - the power to trust, delegate, listen to help all your players move the ball down the field and score too.

"Prove yourself" Todays young entrepreneur let's knowledge do the speaking. He/she builds fast, learns fast, wins fast, looses fast; rinse and repeat. The more you know about your product, user, customer, feedback loops, the smarter you are. Waterfall development of the 90's is done, knowledge is power and it's almost impossible to deny. The lean entrepreneur doesn't care about beauty, they care about adoption, pattern recognition, moving to the goal to "prove" your success. Excellent!

"Improve yourself" Despite the intensity and focus on delivering a great product, the thing that makes good entrepreneurs great is the wisdom of listening ala Brian Chesky. Young entrepreneurs tend to fail themselves and their team by focusing solely on proving themselves versus taking the time to "improve" themselves through better listening, having the humility to fail, learn, and get picked up (if necessary) by your partners and team. You are the product as a CEO/Founder, and like your product you too need to pay very close attention to what your users (team) is saying. It will make you great and your team will be better for it. The greatest measure of success for any entrepreneur or leader is recognition by ones peers, colleagues, team. Wisdom listens, take it from Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart when they say "I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger, I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was stronger". Oooolala!