"Foreknowledge cannot be elicited from ghosts and spirits; it cannot be inferred from comparison of previous events, or from the calculations of the heavens, but must be obtained from people who have knowledge of the enemy's situation." Sun Tzu.
Knowledge is the most important resource in developing personal and professional power. Knowledge isn’t in itself power, but it is the resource most necessary to developing and applying power for success.
The first chapter of Dynamic Components of Personal Power is called “Top 5 Lies About Power.” Lie number three is “Money is Power.”
“In this statement, you can substitute KNOWLEDGE or fame.
“Money, knowledge and fame are resources you can access to develop and express power. They are not power in and of themselves. It they were, all rich and smart people would be powerful; no desperate or stupid people would be!”
Knowledge can only be used to develop and apply power through action. The good thing is that the process of attaining knowledge is, in itself, an extremely powerful action! When you’re lacking in material, emotional and even spiritual power you can still take action to develop knowledge. This action may be as simple as picking up a book or even watching an inspirational movie.
I just did an interview with a remarkable person named Reese Leyva for my PowerPOD program. Reese is the author of The Beginner’s Guide to Abundance. Reese transformed herself from a tough street fighter and drag racer to a successful writer, performer and entrepreneur. During that interview we shared our experiences as people who lived on the edge. I’m sure that many people who knew either of us in our younger, more adventurous days would have been willing to bet good money against our survival, never mind our eventual successes.
So what’s the trick? Reese and I talked about the importance of “mentors.” Even in the most dangerous times, we each found guides from time to time to share a little wisdom and experience and offer a little advice and encouragement. She found that these mentors might come from a book, a movie or an inspirational speaker. You might not meet your mentor personally; I’ll add that many of mine have been dead for a hundred years or longer!
What is very important is to pick your mentors carefully. Choose those with genuine knowledge. As Sun Tzu says in the quotation above, the knowledge you need to conduct a successful campaign doesn’t come from ghosts & spirits and anyone who trades stocks can tell you that “past performance is not a guarantee of future returns on your investment.”
Too many people seek knowledge from people vested only in their own interests. Others are easily swayed by “get rich quick” gurus, or self-help gurus who tell you that you that success and happiness can only be obtained through them. Many others disregard knowledge from genuinely knowledgeable sources and fall prey to slick advertising campaigns based on innuendo and open-ended questions rather than trusting those who are really “in the know.” This happens because sometimes knowledge of the truth is not always comfortable.
Mentors and advisors are a critical part of personal and professional success. These people can help you cultivate your knowledge resource. However, knowledge is only as good as its source. Knowledge is the most important resource because knowledge is the base element you need to develop any other resources.
Be sure you’re seeking the advice of people who “have knowledge of the enemy’s situation.” When working on your vision of personal and profession success, keep this old martial arts adage in mind: “Your enemy may be within!”
Sun Tzu’s Art of War has become a classic for business strategy and personal development. You can access a complete course in Sun Tzu at www.SonShi.com.
You can learn more about Reese Leyva and download her book, The Beginner’s Guide to Abundance at http://www.reeseleyva.com/about.html
The Importance of Mentors - To learn more about this author, visit Jim Bouchard's Website.
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