Knowledge is a tool like many others and I firmly believe that in order to get the greatest benefit from your knowledge is through practical application. Anyone can read a book or an owner's manual to find out the basics but without applying that information in a practical sense you may cause yourself more problems that you are trying to solve.
As the result of being a work-a-holic, I have discovered many times just how useless some of my knowledge has been. Not because the knowledge was useless, but because I had failed to apply that knowledge in a useful and practical mannner. Once I realized that it was the practical application of my knowledge that creates a skill set, it was then that I began to become what I call "knowledgeable" in my endeavors. Am I an expert? No way! I also seek to gain experience using the skills I choose to learn by using them as often as possible.
Through experience and the practical application of knowledge you can develop many useful skills that will benefit you in life.
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Monday, February 23, 2009
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14 comments:
Hi RW!
Even having the knowledge is a skill! Think about this.. would you go bungee jumping with a guy that "saw it on tv",or a guy that read the book and know's how to tie the knot properly? Reading a book about knife sharpening when you don't own a knife put's you one step ahead than the guy next to you! Then again,all the knowledge in the world may not help in some situation's.. I could quote every measurement in a dodge 440 from memory.. still won't fix the blown head gasket! Learn what you need,even if it may not apply to you yet,it may come in handy!
dead on, you can do all the reading you want on how to grow food, clean a fish, or hunt some game. But until you get out there and do it. Your just a noob.
To Kookster,
In my defense,I can do a mopar 440 head gasket in the dark,drunk,and with a pair of worn out plier's! My point was that even reading about it beat's never doing it. If you've never reloaded a shell,I'd prefer to have it done by the guy that read the book first! It's like putting up a tent for the first time.. your buddy has one,and can do it in a minute...but you take 2 hour's the first time! Skill's are learned with experience,but knowledge is forever. A lack of one is a setback,the lack of both is a crisis! uhhmm,what's a noob?? Like a goober?
Dean in Az
Excellent post. I relearned this lesson (again) just today! We just gotta get dirty to get the skills. Thanks RW.
Sam
Sam,
Getting dirty is the best way to go! I think my point is being lost in translation,or beer.. Imagine this.. If you bought a welder,and called me up to teach you to weld. I could walk you thru it over the phone,sorta. That's knowledge. Or I could come over ,turn a few knob's and dial's,get it running perfect,That's experience. Knowing what knob's and dial's to turn what way when, that's a combo of knowledge and skill! I'd rather have a book reader with me than someone who "saw it done,tried it once" type! Keep reading everyone,it never hurt's!! unless it's too dark,too late,or too many beer's....
Dean in az
To: anonymous 7:35
True knowledge can be considered a skill. You make a good point with your example. My point is that I would rather have someone who has tied that knot,jumped and lived to do it again. Still, you make an excellent point in the knowledge may come in handy at a later time when it may be needed. Thanks.
RW
To: kookster
I have friend who can draw a mean set of house plans but give him a saw,a hammer and some nails and what you get won't even look like a house! Thanks.
RW
To: dean
As in all things...practice, practice, practice. Thanks.
RW
To: Sam
If only I had a dollar for every time I got dirt under my fingernails.....
RW
To: Dean in Az
Knowledge + Skill = Empty Can? LOL
RW
RW,
Year's ago I worked at a shop that made woodworking machine's,top notch cabinet type stuff.They were amazed how fast and accurate the part's I made were,it's all in the setup,trust me.. So when thing's were slow,I'd go help make shipping crate's and pallet's. They couldn't believe I could make a part less than a hair off and not cut a 2x4 within a 1/8!! They called me a wood butcher! It's all in knowing your machine,what it like's,and how to treat it. That's experience! Anyone can have knowledge,anyone can have skill.. a combination is talent! and an empty can is a bad thing...
Dean in Az
To: Dean
Knowledge + Skill = Talent
Great point!
Empty can not a good thing!
Got it!
Thanks
RW
RW,
This is a simple basic math thing,what do they teach down there???
Knowledge + skill times cans of beer available divided by ability to get more beer divided by empty can's on the floor,equal's enough $$ to get more beer! Simple math!
Dean in az
To: Dean
Math? What's that? LOL
RW
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