KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Francis Bacon.
Our capacity to make informed decisions is a function of skills, knowledge, and capabilities that we possess. Your ability to deliver superior performance at work and in any other areas of your life is direct proportional to your skills, knowledge and attitude. With the right knowledge, your skills and attitude improves. Knowledge is power.
Any time there exist a gap between what we know and what we need to know, this resultant gap must be filled through knowledge. The cheapest means of getting knowledge is through a conscious self developmental effort.
Knowledge is all about having the right information needed to make informed decision or to achieve a given task at a particular point in time. Knowledge makes one to be smart and be in high demand. Leadership positions in Government across the world are often filled by knowledgeable individuals who have made their marks in business, education, private practice, public service and respected institutions within their country or across the globe. Knowledge makes the difference.
The knowledgeable people are always in control and could be rely upon in critical situations. This explains why the cabinets of political leaders across the world are made up of experts in various fields relevant to the service they are expected to render. This explains why the opinion of someone like Prof. Sam Aluko is highly required when government of Nigeria is introducing a new economic policy. Even if the government of the day fails to seek his opinion, the press will definitely do so. The position of someone like Prof. Sam Aluko counts because of his level of knowledge about economic issues. Your opinion does not count on any issue until you possess the knowledge that others see as uncommon.
Self development can be achieved through so many ways. Ben Carson, in his book, ‘Think Big’ described how he became an instant hero through knowledge of what his classmates knew nothing about. Being the dullest student in his class, this singular experience change his mentality that he can actually be the best in the class. Ben Carson had this experience when he was in fifth grade, by the time he got to the sixth grade; he had become the number one student in his class. This experience turned him into an instant hero and he continues in that zeal to become a world class neurosurgeon. He was able to achieve this feat through a conscious self development effort by studying hard, reading two books a week and watching less of television programmes. You can get to the peak of your career if you are ready to study hard and know what majority of your colleagues do not know.
The suggested strategies below could be used to achieve knowledge acquisition through conscious self development.
Set a personal activities time table and follow it.
Identify your career goal.
Get the best education that fits your career goal.
Read a material related to your field of study for at least one hour daily.
Read at least one book of general or narrow interest per week.
Limit your time on the internet and TV to the barest minimum.
Have a close or distant mentor in your chosen field.
Follow at least one Journal in your field or area of study or interest.
Be inquisitive and conscious of development around you.
Keep company with people with similar vision.
The difference between a versatile Lawyer and a mediocre one is knowledge. What differentiates a skillful and respected surgeon from the crowd is knowledge. To be the best in whatever you do, seek knowledge. Knowledge is power!
Writer’s Profile
Ajiboro Ayodeji is a Chartered HR Practitioner based in Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: 2348027807452. Email: jibdej@gmail.com
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