| Knowledge is of two types: theoretical and practical. | | | | the ups higher and shorten the downs. It is impossible |
| Someone with an advanced degree from a major | | | | for you to learn what you think you already know. |
| university but with no practical experience in the real | | | | Your attitude should be to acquire all the knowledge |
| world is a candidate for on-the-job training and will | | | | necessary to be the best in the line of work you |
| not likely make much of a contribution to his | | | | have chosen and to continue building on that |
| employer during the early going. On the other hand, | | | | knowledge throughout your career. |
| because his impact has to be immediate, the | | | | It is true that two individuals can graduate from the |
| independent consultant is often expected to have | | | | same major university with the same advanced |
| both types of knowledge with more weight on the | | | | degree and one becomes wildly successful and the |
| practical side. | | | | other mediocre in the same profession. Although both |
| Looking at the world of sports, an exceptional player | | | | have similar credentials, the one who more |
| from a major college program should in theory should | | | | consistently applies that knowledge is the one who |
| be at least a good professional player. However, | | | | becomes wildly successful. |
| sometimes that's not the case. His opponents are | | | | A more practical example is from the world of selling. |
| faster, smarter, and hit harder. He still has to learn | | | | Sales managers can train a group of salesmen in their |
| the professional game, adapt himself to the pace, | | | | sales organization, drill them, test them, and watch |
| and do some practical adjustment to the skills of his | | | | them in the heat of competition. Insofar as |
| teammates. The attitude he brings to the | | | | knowledge of fundamentals is concerned, they are all |
| professional game is especially important. If the player | | | | experts. However, the thing that separates the great |
| has the right physical skills and the right attitude, then | | | | ones from the rest of the group is not the |
| the learning can begin and can even be quick. | | | | knowledge of fundamentals, but the more consistent |
| As I mentioned in a previous article, life is a series of | | | | application of that knowledge. |
| ups and downs, Controlling your attitude can take the | | | | In independent consulting as well as in any other line |
| ups higher and shorten the downs. Your attitude | | | | of work, it is the consistent application of knowledge |
| towards acquiring knowledge is what's going to take | | | | that separates the successful from the mediocre. |