Mental Cleanse – Chapter 5 Specialized Knowledge

Although I always did well academically in school, I had few aspirations of attending college. Being part of the "Witness Protection Program" as my husband jokingly refers to the religion that I grew up in, higher education was frowned upon. It was even implied that those who chose to pursue a college education were "spiritually weak" and need to be helped. If you knew the hierarchy as I do, you'd understand that anyone who is taught to think logically would be a threat to their absolute power, and so much be thwarted at every turn. Now, back to the topic at hand -- the true purpose of education.

Although I didn't attend college, most people assumed I had some college background. This used to punish me until an older person told me that all college taught them how to do was research to find the answers they sought. And that's when I knew why people always assumed I was "properly" schooled – I'm intellectually curious and once I am intrigued by an idea I do lots of research until I reach a level of understanding to which I'm comfortable. Reading this chapter really made me appreciate my "nosiness" about the world around me; who would have guessed that the majority of people are so happy being ignorant after they receive that little piece of paper from an institution of higher learning.

I loved Henry Ford's answer to the "educated" legal eagles that were swarming around him. And I agree 110% with his answer, any question that you may conceive has been answered by someone else – so all you have to do is find them. One of the reasons that I choose to home school my children is because I want to instill (or infect) my kids with an intellectual curiosity. Sadly, the educational system has been reduced to lab rat examinations that check your ability to be a professional test taker and fill little circles with lead. The tests aren't about how you use your knowledge or extrapolation of knowledge to solve problems that aren't directly connected to the subject. Talented teachers are wasted because the boards are more concerned with the ability to mindlessly regurgitate information than with the ability to use knowledge in unique and wonderful ways.

At first, when I was reading the chapter I was so caught up in the irony of his words penned almost a century ago and comparing it to the sad state of educational affairs today. But once I mentally got off my soap box, I started learning a few things about avoiding being educationally stifled as an adult. I did take college courses as an adult, and was an A student. And the reason for this (besides my natural brilliance – LOL!) was due to the fact that I was paying $375 per credit and I was darn well going to get the highest grade possible. I actually stopped going to college because I became pregnant with my second child and started having pregnancy amnesia – forgetting about assignments, classes, etc. So, I dropped out because I wasn't about to waste my money taking classes when I knew I wasn't going to be able to get 100% out of it.

Education is only worthwhile if you are going to use the knowledge for something immediately. It's not to be gathered and hoarded as an escape raft or as a magic bullet for some nebulous "what if" scenario. Knowledge is here to be used and to help us better our lives and the lives of others. One of the most ridiculous displays of "information hoarding" happened when I was in 10^th grade. I was assigned to metal shop, but for some reason (maybe I was sick) I wasn't there the first week. Naturally, I hadn't seen the demonstrations and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do to get my project started. I asked one of my classmates to help me and I was told "if I show you, you might get a better grade than me." And the jerk wouldn't show me! I thought that was the dumbest thing I had ever heard – it was metal shop for gosh sake! But in his mind that little bit of knowledge meant (to him at least) some kind of power or standing. In actuality, he showed himself to be less powerful or commanding because the sharing of things is what brings power to you.

One way to make specialized knowledge work in our favor is to share it with others. In the cases that Napoleon Hill told, each of those people took their specialized knowledge and marketed (or shared it) with others who were in need of their expertise. It isn't enough to feel proud that you have degrees in this that and the other thing – you must share them or else you will become extinct. And it is necessary, as living and (hopefully) thinking human beings to take stock of ourselves. We need to question what are abilities are, what we could do better, where we could serve ourselves and others better.

The case of Mr. Wier struck a chord in my family because my husband is in a similar position with his job. He's been trying to see where his next move should be, but has been unsure of what the right move might be. But Mr. Hill helped us to appreciate that any move is better than staying in a dead end position or being in a rut that will eventually cause us harm. As long as we are breathing, we should be growing and changing, and the ways we make a livelihood should be no different. An educated man knows when to seek out new paths and how to find his way by seeking out the expertise of others who have gone through the experience. The Mastermind groups that were discussed in Chapter 1 now hold more weight with me. Since I have been with Mentoring for Free I have learned so much about myself, my husband and my children. I am relating better to them and helping them to learn how to be happier people. And that ability has come through associating with people who are also on the journey of self-knowledge. My conversations with my friends (who aren't involved with MMF) have also changed and I've had many comments about my "wisdom". That really cracks me up because I'm just applying what Michael outlined for the Mental Cleanse – successful people talk about ideas, not other people. And coming from a gossipy group (see "Witness Protection Plan") I was amazed at how easy it has been to stop worrying about everyone else's drama and to concentrate on what I need to do with my life.

Mr. Hill has strengthened my refusal to compromise with life by accepting and keeping a job, a person, a place or anything else that I do not want. I control my success or failure and not the whim of fate. And associating with people who are doing well, can only make me do better. And learning to remain focused (boy is that one tiring) and making a plan of action is the only way to avoid mediocrity in our personal, financial and spiritual lives.

This was a great chapter for me (especially after last week's kick in the head – it's so hard being blue!).