Tip: I don’t know how to do that…yet!
Tip of the Week
11/18/13
Tip: I don’t know how to do that…yet!
Have you ever stopped to consider the fact that no one is born knowing how to do much of anything? I mean, the Wright Brothers were not born knowing how to invent an airplane. Thomas Edison was not born knowing how to create a light bulb. And, Bill Gates was not born knowing how to devise a computer. All of those activities were learned skills that each of those individuals had to learn. When we are born, we are like a blank slate, with nothing yet written on the chalkboard of our mind.
That means that everyone who now knows anything had to first learn it. There was a time when they had no knowledge of it at all. Then as they slowly became aware of new thoughts, they began to learn more about things until finally, they understood new concepts and ideas. Now, that may be an over-simplification of the way the process works, but you get the idea. We go from knowing nothing to knowing something over a period of time. And even then, it requires work and a lot of effort.
I once saw a bumper sticker that said, “If you know how to read this, thank a teacher.” If you know how to read, it is because you learned your alphabet, then phonics, then how to put it all together, and then you finally learned how to read. It is a skill you did not possess at birth, but you were able to learn it.
We live in a world that is constantly changing and requires that we learn many different things in order to stay current. A few years ago, I didn’t know much about computers. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am no technical expert, but I certainly know more about them today than I did a few years ago! And, that’s all because I have taken the time to learn.
About thirteen years ago, I decided to learn more about how money works by studying a book that a friend of mine recommended. I have been learning more about it ever since and it is one of the most fascinating studies I have ever experienced. I still do not know everything there is to understand about it, but I definitely know more than I did when I started. It is such an interesting subject with much mystery associated with it!
So, let me ask you a question: What are you interested in learning or knowing more about? What goals, dreams or desires are in your head at the present time that you would like to pursue, but perhaps need a little more knowledge in order to obtain them? All it takes is starting where you are and beginning the journey of learning more about that particular topic…whatever it might be…and practicing what you’ve learned.
Someone wisely said that you don’t know what you don’t know. While I totally agree with that, I would add one phrase to it. You don’t know what you don’t know…but you can learn! Whatever it is you want to know, you can learn. It is true that some people learn faster than others, but the good news is, we’re not in a contest. We are all on the journey of life together learning all kinds of different information on many varied topics on many different levels. In 1985 I knew nothing about different personality styles. Today I own a company that teaches that kind of information to people all over the world. See what I mean? We truly are all on a similar journey together.
I want to encourage you this week to realize that there is nothing short about your ability to learn. It just takes time to discover the topic that you want to learn more about and begin the process. I believe the key word in this whole Tip is the word “yet”. It signifies that you truly are on a journey and what you don’t know at the present time, you can find out in the future. And, certainly there is a wealth of knowledge available through other people, books, and the internet!
Be encouraged! You are a smart person. You can learn and grow in every area of life. Find out what interests you and begin the journey of completing the “yet” process to learn what you want to know about any topic in the world! Who knows – you may be the one to help millions of people in the future!
Tip: I don’t know how to do that…yet!
Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm
