apply your knowledge

Knowledge is leverage.  But it’s not only acquiring knowledge that matters, it’s how do you actively apply that knowledge to your life, to make a difference.

That’s the true test of knowledge, and you.

Do you take the knowledge you’re given, from those who came before you, who have been down the path you wish to travel, and are on their way back telling you about the journey ahead?  Or do you just nod your head, acknowledge them as they pass, and ignore their lessons?

Sure, your journey may look different from theirs.  They have different life experiences.  They have had to face and overcome different obstacles.  They are where they are because of choices they have made in the past.

All that said, they wanted to go down the same path you are travelling, and they made it through.  So they can tell you about the bumps, the bruises, the expensive and painful lessons.

They can be the guide you are looking for on your path forward.

The challenge I have is learning the lessons by anecdote only, and this is something I’m working on.  If someone says to me: ‘If you do this, this is what’s going to happen.’ I’m often skeptical.  I will want to test it out for myself, and fail a little bit and prove they are worthy of following.  Prove I can listen to what they say and implement without hesitation.  I’m working on that, and I’m far from perfect.

I’m trying to be more deliberate in my learning so when you are evaluating spending the time learning something a trick I’ve learned is asking yourself how do you put it into action?  If and when you learn something, what specifically do you do to incorporate that into your life?

If you’re learning a new skill, do you have to unlearn something else?  Do you have to give something up to do this new thing?  What are you putting down, so you can pick this new thing up?

Is this thing you’re learning something that’s actually important, or do you get distracted by the latest shiny thing?  Have you thought about what working hard on that thing, day after day, week after week, month after month to get where you want to go really means?

It’s hard making those choices, but if you do, and you make them well, your life will never be the same again.