Applied Knowledge

We’ve all probably heard the old adage that knowledge is power. I believed that half truth for longer than I care to admit, at least 25 or 30 years, probably longer. When I say “half truth” here’s what I mean. Today, with the advent of smartphones, we have the aggregate of human history at our fingertips, if we have an internet connection. Yet the global population of millionaires is 1.1% or about 56 million people out of roughly 8 billion. If knowledge is power, how is it that only one percent of the population have accumulated enough financial resources to not have to go to a job everyday? If knowledge is power, how is it that about 11% of the U.S. population is living below the poverty line? If that’s true, how is it that you and I have to suit up and show up, even on days when we’d rather not?

The truth is knowledge is power. Knowledge is knowledge and that’s all that it is, unless and until we apply said knowledge. As a child, we had a chance to order books maybe once or twice a year. We’d get an order form that included the prices and we’d take it home to our parents, and I felt lucky cause my Mom usually bought me a book. As a kid in elementary school, I really did choose by the cover, but I read each and every one of those books.

Fast forward 20 years and I’d amassed a decent collection of books. Mostly for leisure, but some professional. Every professional and personal piece of literature, I either purchased based on the cover or the back blurb. But I can’t recall how many I read cover to cover. Worse yet, I probably applied what I read, and this is a conservative estimate, less than five percent of the time. We all have someone that loves to offer their advice, tell us what they’ve read, and suggest we do the same. But they aren’t doing any of the things they suggest. I was the same way. I’m not proud of it, but I won’t lie and act as if it never happened.

The recent popularization of public accessibility to artificial intelligence will truly expose the half truth about knowledge. Those who perform exceptionally have nothing to fear. The remainder of the population should begin to panic. Mediocrity will be replaced with an agent of change birthed by A.I. The lackluster performers will be stuck retooling themselves, attempting to do something they’ve rarely, if ever done. Apply what they know.

Today, Tuesday, August 1, 2023, I am grateful that:

I got a chance to work last night. I didn’t do much, only about an hour on the clock. It was a lackluster performance to say the least. Mondays are typically my most challenging and yesterday was no different.

I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll be able to, in short order, manifest those things I’ve envisioned over the last year or so. Not only can I see what they are, but also how they will come into existence. I can’t see the people that will assist in making the vision a reality, but I can see it happening.

My court date passed yesterday. I awoke with all intentions of going, but after a little contemplation, I chose to stay home. I’ve paid an attorney to handle those matters and my presence won’t make a difference, I believe, in his performance.

This is the first part of the entry.