Knowledge is Potential Power

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I just finished a book called 'blink', by Malcolm Gladwell. He ends the book with the following lines (no worries, it won't ruin anything):

"Once we know about how the mind works - and about the strengths and weaknesses of human judgement - it is our responsibility to act."

Using one of my new fav. questions, I challenged this and asked myself, "WHAT IF... I didn't act with this new found knowledge?". And hence the title for today's post; "Knowledge is potential power."

Let's take going to college or university for example. If you diligently read your books, did your assignments, etc... you would have lots of additional knowledge. Would this result in any difference in your life? Other than student loans, new friends, and some liver damage, no.

The difference comes when you 'act' with this knowledge. Going to school, reading a book, or learning in any capacity in general is much like charging up a battery with a limitless capacity. You can charge it all you want and it will have even more and more potential power, but until you put the battery to use, it is worthless.

Let's expand this thought even further. The same would apply to all 'resources' in our life, wouldn't it? And by resources, I am referring to anything you have at your disposal; knowledge, money, friends/family/your network of people, material items, your physical self, etc...

For example, being born in Canada instantly gave me access to a lot more resources (education, libraries, healthcare, infrastructure, etc...) than let's say somebody born in a developing country. That being said, they would have access to resources that I wouldn't... at least not initially. But again, if I don't act and make use of these resources they are worthless.

One thing to keep in mind is that just as with any battery, a resource needs to be charged from time to time or else it will run dry.
A trend you will find in the most successful people is that they #1 have access to a vast array of resources (and more than just $$$) and #2 they use them to their full potential when appropriate. Some were born into a world of resources and others chose to continously expand their resources.

What resources are in your life which you are not leveraging to their full potential? What are all the ways you could expand your resources? What resources may need a recharge?

And to bring it back to the opening quote and end today's post on a philosophical note: once you know about these resources, is it our responsibility to act and use them?

Doing so could result in not only expanding your own resources, but also potentially that of the entire world! This effect then compounds and is returned geometrically!

Reminds me of a proverb; the more you give the more you get.

Your friend and coach,
Bryce