How to Organize and Use Knowledge #napoleonhill #thinkandgrowrich

Introduction: How to Organize and Use Knowledge

In Part IV of the series of blog posts based on Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, I am focusing on how to organize and use knowledge. We have often heard that knowledge is power, but I have never believed it, it’s how you use the information that is powerful. In Think and Grow Rich, it says,

“Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action and directed to a definite end. This ‘missing link’ in all systems of education may be found in the failure of educational institutions to teach their students how to organize and use knowledge after they acquire it.”

Marketing Profs wrote an article, “What Online Content Will People Pay For?” that supports what Napoleon Hill is saying. In the article, the author lists the kinds of content that people will pay for, which includes information that will save time, save and make money, is specialized knowledge, information that is scarce and so on.

Hill says there are two types of knowledge, general and specialized, but if you want to earn money, you need specialized knowledge. If you remember, when you are generating new ideas, James Webb Young refers to two types of information, general, the type of information that you gather all your life; and specific information, the type of information that is on your topic of interest, and this is similar to what Hill is saying as well.

Have you Read?

Summary of a Technique for Producing Great Ideas by James Webb Young
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Review
Creating an Invisible Mentor Roundtable #napoleonhill
Roundtable of Invisible Mentors #napoleonhill #invisiblecounselors
Update on What Did Napoleon Hill Omit

After I re-read the chapter in Think and Grow Rich on Specialized Knowledge, I was reminded that there is a natural cycle that we follow when getting, organizing and using knowledge, and it is a part of a bigger picture. The process starts with a need, there is always a reason why you need specialized knowledge, and it doesn’t matter whether you are acquiring the knowledge to get a better job, or to use on a special project. It all starts with a definite purpose. In the post, How to Analyze Information, I talked about the importance of getting your information from credible sources, and that is still the case here. The way you organize and use information or knowledge is tied to your definite purpose.

How to Get Specialized Knowledge and Information

• decide what kind of specialized knowledge you need and why you need it. Your reason must tie into your definite purpose in life.
• How do you get accurate information? The main places to start include:
  • Your experience and education.
  • Experience and education available through the cooperation of others, such as peer-mentors, co-mentors and mastermind alliances.
  • Attending college and university.
  • Accessing the resources offered by public and online libraries.
  • Taking special training and continuing education courses – MOOCs, webinars, seminars, and conferences.
  • Governments and think tanks.
  • Interviewing experts.
• Schedule the time to get the specialized knowledge, so that you are consistent and finish what you start. 

How to Organize and Use Knowledge

Now that you have invested the time to get specialized knowledge, it’s time to organize it so that it’s usable. Think about why you needed the specialized knowledge in the first place, and think about how you can organize and use it to create the greatest impact. If you acquired the specialized knowledge because you want a better job, on your resume and cover letter, show how you can use the information to help a prospective employer. Every step you take, every knowledge that you acquire, should take you one step closer to achieving your definite purpose in life.

Acquiring specialized knowledge should be a lifelong habit.

Final Thoughts: How to Organize and Use Knowledge

“Successful men, in all callings, never stop acquiring specialized knowledge related to their major purpose, business, or profession. Those who are not successful usually make the mistake of believing that acquiring knowledge ends when you finish school. Schooling does but little more than to put one in the way of learning how to acquire practical knowledge.”

Whenever you acquire knowledge, instead of thinking about how knowledge is power, take some time to organization the new knowledge in a way that it can help you to achieve your goals and objectives.

Next Steps

Wondering what to do next, you can do all of:

1. Buy my new book, Leadership Reading: Spilling the Tea on How Top Leaders Read

2. If you want to Consult 1:1 about Effective Reading Strategies

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Update: First Published in February 2014