When Knowledge Isn't Enough
Looking to make a change? Remember: transformation happens experientially, not intellectually.
We often receive instruction and agree, “I see what you're saying,” but seldom do we actually do the thing we learned. We just agree with it in our minds.
This is a problem.
Daniel J. Boorstin said, “The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge.”
Boorstin's statement becomes particularly poignant when you learn that he graduated with highest honors from Harvard, was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and earned his PhD at Yale. By occupation he was a lawyer, a university professor and the U.S. Librarian of Congress from 1975 to 1987. Yet Boorstin warned us that the illusion of knowledge was the greatest impediment to discovery.
Are you willing to go exploring with Boorstin and Dewar and Michener and me? Tommy Dewar said, “Exploration makes one wiser; even if the only wisdom gained is to know where not to return.”
James Michener won the Pulitzer Prize in 1948 for his book, Tales of the South Pacific. He went on to earn more than one hundred million dollars as the author of more than 40 novels.
In his memoirs – published just a year before he died at the age of 90 – Michener wrote, “I feel almost a blood relationship with all the artists in all the mediums, for I find that we face the same problems but solve them in our own ways. When young people in my writing classes, for example, ask what subjects they should study to become writers, I surprise them by replying: ‘Ceramics and eurhythmic dancing.' When they look surprised I explain: ‘Ceramics so you can feel form evolving through your fingertips molding the moist clay, and eurhythmic dancing so you can experience the flow of motion through your body. You might develop a sense of freedom that way.'” – This Noble Land, chap.10
Michener, a novelist to whose success George Washington testified one hundred million times, instructed thousands of aspiring young writers during his years at the University of Texas and he gave each student the same advice. But do you suppose any of them actually took classes in ceramics and eurhythmic dancing?
I doubt it.
Would you have done what Michener said? Or would you have thought, “I get it,” and then walked on to seek advice from other experts?
Would you have allowed the illusion of knowledge to rob you of the joy of discovery?
Roy H. Williams
PS. Lots going on here.
On the Horizon – Three Extraordinary Opportunities:
1. Are you a Dixie Huthmaker, the kind of person who actually does a thing instead of merely thinking about it? If you are, and you're also a business owner, be one of the Ocean's 11 and together we'll see how far you can take your company in just 365 days. Ocean's 11 will consist of 11 lucky business owners involved in a special 3-day brainstorming session with the Wizard of Ads, himself. His goal will be to develop specific marketing strategies for each of the 11 to implement upon their return home. This special event ought to cost 10 times as much. I'd register quickly if I were you. – Corrine Taylor
2. Increase Your Online Conversion with a little help from the biggest of the big-time experts.
3. Learn the Secrets of Marketing to Women. April 18-19, 2007. Taught by Michele Miller, the one and only.
4. Help us furnish Engelbrecht House and as a token of our appreciation you can stay in the room you furnished while you're attending an unprecedented 3 day/ 4night “Best Of” event taught by the Wizard in Tuscan Hall. And because he utterly rocked the house when he was here the first time, Scott McCloud is returning to do an encore performance for this very special group of donors.
To express our gratitude for your help in furnishing Engelbrecht House, you'll experience all the best sessions from the Magical Worlds Communications Workshop, Advanced Thought Particles, DaVinci and the 40 Answers, Free the Beagle, How to Buy Word of Mouth Like Any Other Media, and more. It will be a mind-spinning torrent of new perspective. And you won't have to stay in a hotel or drive around looking for meals. Everything will be right here on campus, thanks to other good people like you who helped us build this marvelous student mansion. Register now and your name will be added to the big bronze plaque of Engelbrecht Builders that will be mounted on the wall in the courtyard of that magical place. We've got to get it ordered soon if its going to be designed, manufactured and delivered in time for the June 30-July 1 Grand Opening event. You'll be proud to find your name there as you stand in the courtyard of Engelbrecht House. All gifts to Wizard Academy are tax deductible.