Knowledge Is Power!
Or is it?
by: J.F. (Jim) Straw
When you have learned that 2 + 2 = 4, you have gained a useful
piece of "information." - When you have learned that
2 apples + 2 apples = 4 apples, but, that 2 apples + 2 oranges
= 2 apples & 2 oranges, or 2 pairs of fruit, or 4 fruits,
you have gained all-important "knowledge."
Information is nice to know. It lets you answer the questions
on tests (or when watching TV game shows). But, until you learn
to use that information in a practical application, it isn't
knowledge.
Any child of 2 or 3 years of age can tell you that 2 + 2 = 4.
They have heard it repeated, over & over, until they can
repeat it themselves. But, when confronted with 4 apples, they
are at a loss to apply that information.
The same holds true for older students (and even adults) who
can readily tell you that Einstein's Theory of Relativity can
be expressed by the formula, E = M times C squared. - Until they
know what the E, M & C stand for and can use the formula
in a practical application, it is only information, not knowledge.
A fine line exists between information and knowledge. That fine
line is nothing more than "use." -- You can memorize
bits and pieces of information all day, every day, but, until
you actually use that information, it is not knowledge. Once
used, information becomes knowledge and, thereby, power.
SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE; whether they be self-employed or wage-earners,
executive or common laborer, are seekers after knowledge. They
absorb information from every direction. The information they
can use becomes knowledge, while the information they have no
apparent use for is simply stored on the chance that someday
it may become useful.
UN-SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE, on the other hand, claim to be seekers
of knowledge, but, they believe that knowledge itself can be
imparted. Because the books they read, the courses they take,
and the plans they buy contain only "information.,"
they are forever disappointed. Because it is ONLY INFORMATION
(not the "knowledge" they thought they were going to
get), they never use the information and, thereby, the knowledge
they sought is lost to them forever.
Since I am the author of a great many books, booklets, reports,
articles and editorials about success and making & using
money (somewhere over 300 so far), those people stick-out like
sore-thumbs on my customer lists. They write me long letters
detailing their trials and tribulations and explain to me just
why the information won't work for them. But, not one ever writes
to say "I used the information and it didn't work."
- Had they ever used the information, that information would
have turned into knowledge and they could have reaped the rewards
they have coveted for so long.
If there was a way I could "force" those people to
use the information they have, I could literally GUARANTEE their
success. And, in those few cases over the years where I have
been able to shame or intimidate people into actually using the
information I have provided, those people have achieved successes
they had only dreamed were possible.
The RULES OF SUCCESS used by successful people & businesses
since the beginning of time have never really changed. Those
rules have been written-down for all to read, learn and use,
but they appear as "information" only and can only
be changed to "knowledge" by use. If there were a way
to "force" every person and every business to "use"
those known and proven rules of success, there would be NO UN-successful
people or businesses in the world.
Statistically, 90% of small businesses fail, and 90% of people
live a life of sustained mediocrity, simply because they will
not "use" the information available to them.
In your quest for financial independence you MUST learn to force
yourself to use the information you have at your disposal. --
No one (but YOU) is going to force you to assume that responsibility.
Of course, some smart aleck reading this is going to say, "Yeah!
But, I'm not going to use any bad information."
Granted, there is bad (counter-productive) information out there.
BUT - there is NO WAY of telling good information from bad information,
UNTIL YOU TRY IT. Judging the value of information without using
it is like trying to judge the flavor of a pie without ever tasting
it.
If you learn nothing else from life, learn that information only
becomes knowledge when you use it - and - the information you
have used or failed to use in the past is the reason you are
where you are today.
YOU can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. No one forces
you to be what you are, or do what you do (or don't do). - What
you have today is a direct result of what you did yesterday.
What you will have tomorrow will be a direct result of what you
do (or don't do) today.
It's up to you!
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Copyright - 2004, J.F. (Jim) Straw. All rights reserved.