It’s Not What You Know, It’s What You Do

As we are in Information Age, knowledge is no farther away than the tips of our fingers through the internet, with the existence of Google search, Wikipedia, millions of bloggers, forums, newsgroup, mailing list and what not. We have access to information more than ever. We can basically learn anything we want.

So how come people seem to have more troubles than ever?

People seem to have so much difficulty losing weight, despite all the available information on physical training and nutrition.

People pile up on debt or get suckered into scams or unaffordable loans, despite all the available news and resources on finance issues.

There seem to be more depression and other psychological issues than ever, despite all the available study and better understand of how the human brains work.

So much information yet people cannot learn to be physically healthy.
So much information yet people cannot learn to be fiscally healthy.
So much information yet people cannot learn to be mentally healthy.
So much for all these information.

There are a lot of intelligent people who know a lot of stuffs, yet we still have the problems we have today. Wall Street has tons of math wizards and geniuses, yet the market is in such serious trouble.

What tragedy.

This brings me to today’s main point…

Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do.
– Bruce Lee

Knowing is not enough, we must apply. — It is not about what you know. It is about what you do with what you know. Just knowing is not enough. You must translate what you learned and know into action.

Willing is not enough, we must do. — You may know what to do, but the tough part is doing what is necessary in spite of difficulty, in spite of pain. Doing what it takes every moment with awareness, without self-denail. Taking responsibility of your reality by actions that followed a clear mind.

Therefore, reading dozens of self-help books without corresponding actions anything will not help you. Reading tons of personal finance blogs without executions will not help you. Having all the calories spelled out on labels without you controlling yourself will not help you. And essentially, you can read my blog, but I cannot change anything for you. The best readers I can ask for are ones who get motivated and learn something that allow them to change and never have to come back. Again…

It is what you know AND do that matters. You MUST do.

For most cases, you don’t even have to know that much. Knowing and mastering the basics will at least allow you to be average, or even above average because majority of people may not even care for the basics. For example for physical health, it is helpful to know a lot of nutrition details, but in reality, you just need to have a relatively balanced diet and exercise moderately and consistently. In terms of money and fiscal health, it is big plus to know about power of compound interest, how to invest, and other financial tools, but you just need to spend less than you earn to stay out of major troubles.

Everyone of you knows a lot and you know what to do in most cases. However, can you always do what needs to be done every moment? Or do you frequently forget what you must do because you get lost in life’s drama or your own ego?

Originally posted 2008-05-31 23:35:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter