Knowledge Informs; Wisdom Transforms

In 1597 Sir Francis Bacon gave words to the belief that “knowledge is power” and for the last four decades man has sought knowledge, often in the service of power.

Can knowledge deliver? Few have thought to question these words.

I contend that today knowledge is both overvalued and overserved—and that it’s not actually knowledge we are after but something much more…something richer and more transformative.

In this information age, knowledge is as plentiful as fast food, wisdom as precious as a home cooked meal. Knowledge is mindlessly poured into troughs; wisdom preciously served one ladle at a time with delight. Knowledge is like grape juice, wisdom a fine wine. They share common roots but one is squeezed and frozen the other fermented in the finest oak.

Knowledge, after all, is quite literally “information” where wisdom is knowledge through the lens of real-life experience, concentrated to what matters—it has meaning and calls to action.

Recently, when asked what inspired my new book, Strength for Life, about why I was compelled to write this body of work, wisdom is at the heart of my answer. For certainly there is a considerable abundance of knowledge fitness, nutrition and transformation but a disturbing shortage of wisdom on the subjects.

You see, it’s knowledge we have, but wisdom we seek. Knowledge informs; wisdom transforms. Knowledge gives you the rules of the game—only wisdom empowers you to change it.

This sort of game changing impact—the difference wisdom makes—can be witnessed in a new service my friend Brian Johnson has just launched call, PhilosophersNotes.com.

Brian is a man on a personal mission of discovery which is shares by skillfully distilling wisdom from the leading leadership and personal development books of today and of any day. Rest assured it’s wisdom that you will find generously served here.

The sort of wisdom that could only be revealed by a true modern day Philosopher passionately pursuing greatness in service to the world. If you’ve ever wished you could read more, ever wondered how to keep up with the latest business and development books, PhilosophersNotes can change your life.

My advice? Step on! Take this ride of a lifetime with Brian and invigorate your own passionate search for truth and wisdom.

Comments

[Mike Bell]

Very insightful. We tend to think of wisdom coming only from wise old men with long white beards and have forgotton our own capability to source our wisdom.

What we also lack are the tools to evoke the collective wisdom and for this we have to look back to the cultures of the Mayans and pre-Mayans to a body of earth wisdom tools.

I use a Wisdom Council often in my work to help communities and organisations make wise decisions. See http://www.thewisdommeme.com/wisdomcouncil1.htm

[Mike Hamler]

Wisdom is Action. It's the Walk in Walk you Talk. So with that said, I'd better close and start Walking instead of Talking. As always, nicely done Shawn.

[Alexandra Jaye]

You have always been such a huge inspiration! Awesome Post!! Looking forward to reading your book! :)

And YES PhilosophersNotes rock! :)