I once heard a story about a farmer who had been farming for many years. He had a son who went off to college and after a few years came home with a degree in hand, and a head full of knowledge. He told his father, “You know, Dad, this farm would be much more productive if you would use the new methods of farming. These days everyone is using hybrid strains of seeds. There are better methods of crop rotation and contour plowing. Plus you really should be using up-to-date insecticides and fertilizers. And did you know most farmers are milking their cows three times a day instead of two.” He went on and on expounding the virtues of all the modern methods of farming. Finally his father said, “Now just hold on there son! I’m not farming half as well as I know how already!”
Isn’t that the way we are? We seldom perform as well as we know how. I’ve heard people say that “knowledge is power.” To a certain degree it can be. But in my own personal experience I find that I know a lot of things that I should be doing but I don’t. Just having knowledge about something doesn’t necessarily translate to the ability or power to do it.
Many times over the years I would tell my children to do their homework. Invariably they would answer back, “I know dad!” and I would say back to them, “Then do what you know!” It’s kind of a joke around my house because I have said that phrase so many times to my children: Do what you know.
How many self-improvement books have you read over your life time? I have hundreds of them! We probably learn ten-times more than what we ever put into action in our lives. Yet we keep buying books and wanting to learn more.
At some point it’s time to stop learning and start doing. We need to put our knowledge to use. I’m not suggesting we completely stop learning but what good is learning if we never use it?
Here is my suggestion: How about making a list of all the things you know you should do but aren’t. Then from your list choose two or three things and start doing them! You can read books, read blogs and listen to tapes and CDs till the cows come home but until you actually do something you are going nowhere. It’s time to take real action! At the end of the day, knowing the answer means nothing if you don’t do anything about it.
The basic idea is this. We DO know a lot more than we think. Especially if we have been reading how-to, self-help, etc. books. We voraciously devour tips and pointers, don’t really put them into action, and then move on to the next thing that is going to give us “the answer.”
So if you already know it, then DO it.
This is great! I have been reading your blog for awhile – and this one rings so true (as many of your ideas do). I am guilty of reading Runner’s World and not running – It inspires me but…I gotta make it happen – same is true with diet – I know i need to eat more fish and greens – I read up on it – etc…Need to do it! Action Action Action! otherwise its all in my head!
THANK YOU for reminding me…again.
THIS I definitely agree with — “At the end of the day, knowing the answer doesn’t mean squat if you don’t do anything with it.” I once knew a man about whom it was said, “He thinks an insight is a real change.” The comment was intended as an insult.
I think I have fallen into the trap in the past of buying those self improvement books hoping to see the light. Yet, what I haven’t done yet and, this of course is the lesson of simplicity, is to write down what I know I can do to change or develop more, using my current experience and knowledge. In other words putting into practice some of those insights of the self developments books I have already read.
Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.
Thanks
Jinny
Thank you for the comments. I really appreciate hearing other people’s views on topics. My experience is that I know much more than I do. Perhaps your experience is different. Let us hear about it.