Knowledge is Power! Or, is it?

> Knowledge is Power!
> Or, is it?

> 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 = MxCsquared. -
> 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 this
> discussion board, 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!

> © - 2000, Phlander Company.

let's say it; Jim is Right!, Jim is Right! There, I said it.
But seriously, Jim IS right. Although I don't even think I needed to post this because I'll bet each and every one of us who read Jim's post is nodding their heads up and down thinking, Yup! Jim's Right. Enough Said!

Keep those words of wisdom coming, Jim.


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