It’s More Than Just Figs
David Fruend
Recently, I was listening to an interview with the President of High Point University, Dr. Nido Qubein. While he left me with many great takeaways, one idea has stayed with me ever since.
He talked about figs, but more importantly, he talked about why he likes them.
Dr. Qubein said, “It’s not enough to say, ‘I like figs.’ The better question is, ‘Why do I like figs?’”
So, what does this have to do with leadership? Stay with me a moment.
He explained that he likes figs because someone once offered him one, and he discovered that he liked them. The key point wasn’t the fig itself. It was the environment. He was in a place where he had the chance to try something new. Had he never been in that place, he would’ve never known.
That’s the lesson.
How many ideas, perspectives, or growth opportunities do we miss simply because we never put ourselves in the rooms where we could experience them?
Growth requires intentional exposure. We must continually place ourselves in environments — and among people — where we can learn new things.
Today, more than ever, information is literally at our fingertips. Podcasts. YouTube videos. Books in print, digital, and audio formats. Though the real question is: Are we making good use of them?
My friend and mentor John Maxwell often says, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” God willing, next month I’ll be traveling to Dallas to spend time with my fellow Maxwell Leadership coaches. I’m making that investment knowing I won’t be the smartest person in the room — and that’s exactly the point.
I need to be around people further down the journey than I am. I need to learn from them. I need exposure to better thinking and fresh ideas. If I’m going to continue adding value to you — my readers and the members of our great association — I can’t rely solely on what I already know.
So let me ask you:
Where do you need to go?
Who do you need to be around?
What books do you need to read?
What podcasts do you need to listen to?
Do you have a plan?
Personally, I don’t like figs. I’ve tried them. My wife has encouraged me to eat them. They’re just not for me. But I do love mangoes — and I know that because I was once in a place where I could taste one.
The same is true in leadership and communication. Some ideas resonate deeply with me; others don’t. That doesn’t make them bad. It just means they’re not for me. But if I’m never exposed to them, I’ll never know what might be.
My growth plan is set for the first six months of the year. I know the books I’ll read and the places I’ll go. If you follow these emails, you’ll hear about what I’m learning, what I’m experiencing, what’s working — and sometimes what isn’t. If you attend classes I lead, I promise you this: every session will include something new, something different, something I’ve just learned.
Because while I may not like figs, I’m confident there are many other things out there that I’ll absolutely delight in discovering.
Happy learning.