We have been talking about how to get past dealing with a lack of experience. Previously, I talked about making up for that experience by getting a good mentor who can lead you through the struggles, and also discussed how you should be sure to correct people’s misconception that a lack of experience means a lack of competence.  Check out that first Where’s the Real [Blank] Post.

I wanted to follow up with a few more ideas.

The first is that you can make up for your lack of experience and knowledge on specific issues by using that energy God has blessed you with. Most young people are much more energetic than our older counterparts. You have to use this to your advantage. Get out, ask questions, watch other people who are more experienced, dig in to the books, research, know your stuff. This will separate you from everyone else.

Next, I want to discuss the change in perspective based on our youth. In my profession, the more experience you get, the more jaded you seem to get. I understand this to be true in all types of jobs - churches, sales people, and everything else. Maybe this is based on pride and ego? Who knows? But you have a different perspective than everyone else. You have a different set of circumstances that make up your life. You can see things from different angles. Different is not always bad - just different. As a Southern Baptist, I’m used to hearing people say “we’ve never done it that way before” when a new idea is brought up.

Don’t worry about not being able to sympathize with everyone. That just isn’t possible, no matter who you are or how old you are. You won’t live everyone’s life for them and you can’t go back and feel their pain (though I feel like some clients are making me feel the pain). While I know I cannot sympathize with many things, I do my best to empathize with my clients. I want them to know I care. While I don’t know how they feel or exactly what they are going through, I have worked with others who are where they are and I feel empathy for their position. Just that emotion can go a long way.

I think young people can redefine how experience is expressed. As I progress in my practice, I can honestly tell you it makes me more confident to talk about certain things after I have personally experienced the process. I can give the client a much better understanding than when I am going on second hand knowledge. But when “real experience” cannot be had, get a mentor and get moving. That will be plenty to save the day.