It’s easy to jump to conclusions and form opinions based on what others say. But nothing beats firsthand experience. Before forming a strong opinion, take the time to see and understand things for yourself, i.e., experience it.

When you go through something, you see the full picture - the good, the bad, and everything in between. You get into the nuances that someone with secondhand information would lack. That’s when your opinion truly holds weight.

Firsthand experience also sharpens judgment and does not just teach you what works, but also

• why it works, and
• why certain things don’t

It helps in building empathy because once you’ve lived through something, you can better connect with others in similar situations. Plus, it gives you the much-needed confidence to talk about it and tackle similar problems in the future.

This holds for all things work and all things learning.

If you’re trying to make an impact, participate in design discussions, mentor people, make decisions, or navigate uncertainty - experience matters, because real impact demands real understanding.

And the best part? It holds for life, too.