Curious about Knowledge: Is It Power? Or Is It Holding You Back?

“Knowledge is power.” - Francis Bacon, English philosopher

“Knowledge is that possession that no misfortune can destroy, no authority can revoke, and no enemy can control. This makes knowledge the greatest of all freedoms.” - Bryant H. McGill, American poet

I was brought up to embrace and believe the preceding quotations. My father, and greatest mentor, often reminded me that he wouldn’t be leaving me a huge amount of money. Instead, he put me through a topnotch college, because no one can “take away your education.”

That’s why when I started reading Larry Winget’s book, Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life, I was a bit taken aback when he started attacking the “myth” that “knowledge is power.” He does have many other “myths” that he lists in this rather confrontational book. In his defense, Winget warns the reader upfront that he will be an irritant and will probably make us angry.

He hasn’t made me angry. He has made me think! And, a lot of what he writes make sense. His basic premise is that, “What you think about, talk about, and do something about is what comes about.” Start with thoughts translated into beliefs and coupled with actions will produce the results we want.

Back to “knowledge.” I love amassing it, but, thinking about it, I realize that I can easily be buried by all of the information available today. I can, and often do, spend valuable time reading about Internet marketing, blogs, websites, podcasts, teleseminars, sales, copywriting, videos, traffic, and on and on. Yes, Winget is right. My fascination with knowledge is taking me away from the actions I should be doing to get where I want to, because it is spreading me in too many directions.

How about you? Are you so tempted by “knowledge” that it is robbing you of your powerful actions?

I found a huge number of “knowledge” quotations, so will share a few with you:

• “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin, American politician
• “Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.” - Samuel Johnson, English author
• “The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.” - Henry Ford, American businessman
• “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” - Albert Einstein, German physicist
• “To maximize our potential to enhance our health and our knowledge, we should remain open to new understanding and evolving technology or resources that might inspire a change in our approach to these important questions.” - Samuel Wilson, American public servant

Some quotations with a different twist:

• “To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.” - Marilyn vos Savant, American writer
• “Intelligence, rather than knowledge, is the aim.” - Stephen Gardiner, English clergyman
• “Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.” - Plato, Greek philosopher
• “Knowledge is what we get when an observer, preferably a scientifically trained observer, provides us with a copy of reality that we can all recognize.” - Christopher Lasch, American historian
• “Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.” - George Eliot, British author
• “I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death. - Robert Fulghum, American author

And here are the quotations to tide you over until next week - and do read Winget’s book!

• “Our ordinary mind always tries to persuade us that we are nothing but acorns and that our greatest happiness will be to become bigger, fatter, shinier acorns; but that is of interest only to pigs. Our faith gives us knowledge of something better: that we can become oak trees.” - E. F. Schumacher, English economist
• “To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.” - Confucius, Chinese philosopher

And, finally:

“Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give luster, and many more people see than weigh.” - Lord Chesterfield, British statesman

Curious about Circumstances: How Do They Influence Us? How Do You Deal with Them?

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” - Jim Rohn, American businessman

“Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him.” - James Allen, American author

Yes, I usually write and post this blog on Saturdays or Sundays. But, you know that today is Monday - and fairly late Monday. You guessed it. It was because of my circumstances.

I left early on Thursday for Towson, Maryland (right outside of Baltimore), for my college reunion. And, from the moment I arrived until I drove back home, I was busy having a blast. I attended classes, visited with classmates I hadn’t seen in years, walked around the campus (filled with new and sharp buildings), met many of the new and very young students, took part in the parade of classes and many events, purchased goodies at the campus store, experienced incredible art work and ate deliciously prepared food.

These were special and delightful circumstances. However, not all circumstances are. And, how many of us use our circumstances as excuses for not reaching our goals and aspirations? I know that you have met people who complain and whine about their circumstances. And, yes, life is often not perfect, but let’s try to realize that challenging circumstances - and how we deal with them - help us to grow and prosper.

I think that you will find many of the quotations helpful and inspiring - I know I did.

Let’s start with some overall general feelings about circumstances:

• “The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.” - Aristotle, Greek philosopher
• “Big pay and little responsibility are circumstances seldom found together.” - Napoleon Hill, American writer
• “We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.” - Earl Nightingale, American entertainer
• “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.” - Horace, Greek poet
• “I am I plus my circumstances.” - Jose Ortega y Gasset, Spanish philosopher
• “He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances.” - David Hume, Scottish philosopher
• “Youth is a quality, not a matter of circumstances.” - Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect
• “If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be.” - John Heywood, English dramatist

Some lasting advice for all of us:

• “The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them, make them.” - George Bernard Shaw, Irish dramatist
• “There are few circumstances which so strongly distinguish the philosopher, as the calmness with which he can reply to criticisms he may think undeservedly severe.” - Charles Babbage, English mathematician
• “Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous - not just to some people in some circumstances - but to everyone all the time.” - Thomas J. Watson, American scientist
• “Persevere and preserve yourselves for better circumstances.” - Virgil, Greek poet
• “Man is not the creature of circumstances, circumstances are the creatures of men. We are free agents, and man is more powerful than matter.” - Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman
• “No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet
• “A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.” - Hugh Downs, American entertainer
• “Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” - Thomas Jefferson, American President

And, here are three more to chew upon and consider this coming week:

• “Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” - Nido Qubein, American businessman
• “We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.” - Earl Nightingale, American entertainer
• “Dwell upon the brightest parts in every prospect... and strive to be pleased with the present circumstances.” - Abraham Tucker, British philosopher

What circumstances are you dealing with? How can you use them to your advantage? What have they taught you and what are they teaching you now? Have a terrific week filled with great circumstances!

Curious about Recognition: Do You Use It, Enjoy It and/or Want It? How Much Does It Mean to Us and Others?

“There are two things people want more than sex and money... recognition and praise.” - Mary Kay Ash, American businesswoman

“There are two kinds of taste, the taste for emotions of surprise and the taste for emotions of recognition.” - Henry James, American writer

I am presently reading The Carrot Principle: How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their Employees, Retain Talent, and Drive Performance by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. Gostick and Elton refer to tests that prove that if a leader adds recognition to the management mix, employees, followers and volunteers will respond positively.

In 1959, Frederick Herzberg developed a list of factors which are closely based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, except it more closely related to work. Under “Motivators or Satisfiers” he listed recognition right at the top.

Oftentimes, we are not recognized for doing a good job, but are for making a mistake – and that is not very rewarding. I am sure that you feel as I do – I love having someone compliment me on an accomplishment. I am also delighted when out of the blue, someone from the past recognizes me and, even better, remembers my name.

Now, let’s talk about giving recognition. Notice how others’ faces light up when you compliment them on a well done project. Or, remember their name. In my fitness classes, students share their victories – weight loss, lower blood pressure, being the star hiker on an outing. Besides congratulating them, I always ask if I can share what they’ve told me with the rest of the class. The recognition brings applause from everyone, and talk about a motivator!

We must not only give sincere recognition to others, but also recognize our own victories and accomplishments. Give yourself a pat on the back for all of your good work and deeds.

What do we find in the way of quotations from the often quoted:

• “I will tell you King's First Law of Recognition: You never get it when you want it, and then when it comes, you get too much.” - Billie Jean King, American athlete
• “They didn't know who I really was. They didn't know how much the smallest amount of recognition would have meant to me and how the smallest amount of criticism could undo me.” - Amy Tan, American writer
• “If my work was about anything, it was about the search for identity, for personal recognition, for acceptance, for communion, and for a big country. I've always felt that's why people come to my shows, because they feel that big country in their hearts.” - Bruce Springsteen, American musician
• “Happy indeed is the scientist who not only has the pleasures which I have enumerated, but who also wins the recognition of fellow scientists and of the mankind which ultimately benefits from his endeavors.” - Irving Langmuir, American scientist
• “Admiration, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.” - Ambrose Bierce, American journalist

How do you feel about recognition? And, how do you handle it? There are those - and I feel the majority - who enjoy and rise to the occasion of recognition. I do a great deal of “heavy” volunteer work. If, after the many hours dedicated, no one even recognizes with a “thank you” (which, for me, is enough) I find that I don’t rush to take on more jobs.

This is also when I work at following Abraham Lincoln’s suggestion, “Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.”

I do want to recognize and thank all of you who read my blogs, my newsletters, and send me great feedback! You are wonderful! Have a great week.

Curious about Listening: How Do We Become Better Listeners? How Important Is It?

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” - Bryant H. McGill, American poet

“If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.” - Robert Baden-Powell, English soldier

I think that most of us know how important “Listening” is. But, I ask you, how effective a “Listener” are you? I was reminded of this fine art and important skill while reading, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful” by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter.

Goldsmith works with successful executives who, even though successful, have habits or a habit that need(s) to be “fixed.” And one is the lack of effective listening. As I read this section, I realized that I need to work on this area. I love to talk and know that I sometimes - even when listening - tend to jump in with a statement and/or an idea that is generated by something someone else has said.

When I searched for “Listening” quotations, I was overwhelmed by the number and scope. Many were in the field of music, and, though important, I haven’t included many of them. I think you will be grateful for the thoughts expressed by the experts.

Some general quotations about “Listening”:

• “Most of the successful people I've known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” - Bernard Baruch, American businessman
• “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.” - Larry King, American entertainer
• “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia, American author
• “One learns more from listening than speaking. And both the wind and the people who continue to live close to nature still have much to tell us which we cannot hear within university walls.” - Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian explorer
• “It's only through listening that you learn, and I never want to stop learning.” - Drew Barrymore, American actress
• “So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.” - Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian philosopher

Additional quotations that add more dimensions:

• “The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting.” - Fran Lebowitz, American journalist
• “Listening is the only way to entertain some folks.” - Kin Hubbard, American journalist
• “Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.” - Joyce Brothers, American psychologist
• “Storytelling captures an aspect of childhood experience when being told a story was a common ritual. It's a warm place for most of us and in some ways represents our first experience in really listening.” - Paul Lansky, American composer
• “The best way to persuade people is with your ears - by listening to them.” - Dean Rusk, American diplomat
• “The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success.” - James Cash Penney, American businessman
• “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” - Ernest Hemingway, American novelist

And here are several to work on this coming week. I know that I plan to focus on “Listening.” How about you?

• “Sticking to your values, listening to your instincts, making your own choices is so important.” -Brittany Murphy, American actress
• “The writer is always tricking the reader into listening to their dream.” - Joan Didion, American author
• “If you want to make someone feel emotion, you have to make them let go. Listening to something is an act of surrender.” - Brian Eno, British musician

Do let me know how you do? Making the conscious effort to “Listen” completely will not only change our lives, but will also change others’ attitudes toward us.

Curious about Intention and Intentions: Do You Use Them to Replace Goals? Do They Work Like Goals for You?

Definitions of Intention:
1. A stretching or bending of the mind toward of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
2. A determination to act in a certain way or to do a certain thing; purpose; design; as, an intention to go to New York.
3. The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.

I picked Intention(s) for this week’s theme, because for longer than a year I have noticed that many involved in the motivational movement have replaced the word “goal” or “goals” with the word “intention” or “intentions.” Is this because they feel that intentions are stronger, or that goals have somehow fallen out of favor?

Personally, I feel that it all boils down to whether or not we start by setting and writing down our goals/intentions and then take action. And, yes, the planning and writing down of the action steps is incredibly important. But, if we don’t follow through on them, it doesn’t matter if they are needed to reach a goal or an intention.

In addition, we need to honestly ask ourselves why or why not we are following through? Have we set the wrong goal(s) or intention(s) for us? Over the years I have realized that so many of us set goal(s) or intention(s) that we feel the others in our lives want us to rather than the ones we desire in our core.

How do some of the experts feel about intention and/or intentions:

• “Our intention creates our reality.” - Wayne Dyer, American psychologist
• “Intentions count in your actions.” - Abu Bakr, Saudi Arabian statesman
• “A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.” - Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman statesman
• “It's amazing how much you can learn if your intentions are truly earnest.” - Chuck Berry, American musician
• “I've never seen someone fail or miss out who wasn't kind of pushing ahead with the best of intentions and with the belief in themselves.” - Shawn Colvin, American artist
• “A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them.” - Liberty Hyde Bailey, American Scientist

A few more with some twists:

• “There's always been the intention to just have fun. I don't understand why some people are taking everything so damn serious.” - Donnie Wahlberg, American actor
• “Life is short and if you're looking for extension, you had best do well. 'Cause there's good deeds and then there's good intentions. They are as far apart as Heaven and Hell.” - Ben Harper, American musician
• “Our intentions may be very good, but, because the intelligence is limited, the action may turn out to be a mistake - a mistake, but not necessarily a sin, for sin comes out of a wrong intention.” - E. Stanley Jones, American theologian
• “The first principle of ethical power is Purpose. By purpose, I don't mean your objective or intention - something toward which you are always striving. Purpose is something bigger. It is the picture you have of yourself - the kind of person you want to be or the kind of life you want to lead.” - Ken Blanchard, American businessman
• “So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done, either cannot, or ought not to be done.” - Thomas Jefferson, American president

For you and me to consider and take action upon this coming week - and even longer:

• “I'm delirious with joy. It proves that if you confront the universe with good intentions in your heart, it will reflect that and reward your intent. Usually. It just doesn't always do it in the way you expect.” -J. Michael Straczynski, American producer
• “When we set a goal we are using the power of intention. When we take action we are using the power of attention. When we use both we move toward the achievement of our goals.” - Kevin MacDonald, American clarity expert
• “The smallest deed is better than the grandest intention.” - Roger Nash Baldwin, American activist

So, have you set meaningful - to YOU - intentions? And, how much action have you or are you taking? Let me know about your progress!