Is it better to use your knowledge and experience to solve problems than ask other people for advice?

Is it better to use your knowledge and experience to solve problems than ask other people for advice?

Well duh.

But that doesn't answer the question; I still have 567 words to go.

Let's begin with the jargon then, shall we?
The reason why you do not constantly ask others for things that you can figure out by yourself is because:  1. Other people become extremely annoyed when you constantly ask questions that common sense can figure out.  2. You won't ever advance if you do not solve things by yourself.  And finally, 3. It really slows down the process of anything if you cannot act on your own.

1.  It's not very smart to be incessant.
Suppose you work in a cubicle (or a line of desks, if you live in Japan).  You're new, so everyone knows you have questions and are willing to answer them.  First, you don't know where to stamp the papers, so instead of stamping the place that says "STAMP HERE" by using 'knowledge and experience', you say to the guy next to you "Hey, where do I stamp the paper".  That is really, really stupid, but he answers it anyway.  Next minute, you ask again.  Fine, he answers it again.  Third time, he says "damn it, it says huge in bold letters to stamp there".  If you keep asking, you will develop a reputation as someone who sucks at figuring things out.

Okay, that example was clearly exaggerated, but for now I will move on.

2.  You will never advance if you do not use your brain.


 Constantly asking for answers is like copying someone else's homework.  You could solve it by yourself, but instead you keep asking questions.  Just do it.  If you try, you'll figure it out, and I promise that is so much more rewarding.  There is a huge difference between finding out the answer by asking, and by figuring it out.  If you figure it out, you will know most, if not all, aspects on how to do the certain process; whereas if you ask, you can find out immediately, yet some things will still be ambiguous.  Also, if you figure it out on your own, you will learn how to figure things out easier in the future.


3.  Asking slows down efficiency.

Why were Asian armies during World War II so much less efficient than the European ones?  Simple, Japanese, Chinese, and others required low-ranking officers to constantly report to the higher officers for permission for anything.  If there was a group of Japanese soldiers returning to camp, an American lieutenant would follow them to find out where their camp was.  On the other hand, if there was a group of American soldiers returning to camp, a Japanese lieutenant would not follow them.  Instead, they would return to base, request permission to follow them, and return.  By the time they returned, of course, the Americans would already be gone......Exactly; asking questions can lose battles, which can lose wars.  That's how important it is.




Done, thanks.