Knowledge is Power?

This phrase was first coined by Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England.

Sir Francis meant by this phrase that having and sharing of knowledge is the foundation of reputation and influence, because it all begins with knowledge.

But is it true that "Knowledge is Power"?

Since my school days I like to read, I feel that I can explore a lot of understanding and knowledge through reading.

But one time when I was in college, a problem occurred, sometimes I quickly panicked.

Then my sister said "ah it's useless, you read a lot, you just encounter this problem, you immediately want to give up. It's useless you know a lot".

Similarly when I re-started my career in the Insurance industry, I wanted to learn everything first until I feel confident, took a lot of training.

However, my leader Gui Mei rebuked, "You can't just keep learning, but you must also practice and work on it if you want the results."

Power is Power. The ability to Act from what is known is more Powerful.

Generally people only knowing, but do not have the ability to act on it.

"Faith without works is dead". - Put your knowledge into action.

Yes, Knowledge is Power, but acting on your Knowledge is Much More Powerful.

The Power of Mindset.

Many may not know who Edwin C. Barnes was, but many people must have heard of Thomas A. Edison.

When he got off the freight train in West Orange, New Jersey, Barnes might look like a bum, but he had the mindset of a King.

Despite being penniless and not acquainted with the inventor, Barnes came to Edison's Office with a passionate desire to 'cooperate', NOT 'work for' Edison.

There were two problems: He didn't know Edison, and he didn't have the money to buy a train ticket to Edison's lab in West Orange, New Jersey.

Problems like these are enough to make people generally back off from pursuing a Desire or a Dream.

Barnes did not get a partnership with Edison in the first interview. He got the opportunity to work in Edison's office for low wages.

Month after month. Although no progress brought him closer to his Dream, Barnes continued to strengthen his desire to become Edison's business partner.

It took five years before this GREAT opportunity he had been looking for appeared before his eyes.

Edison had just finished perfecting a new office equipment known as the Dictation Machine. Salespeople were unenthusiastic and unsure of how to sell this tool.

Barnes knew he could sell the Dictation Machine. He offered himself to Edison, and was given the opportunity by the Inventor.

He managed to sell the machine, and gained big Success. Then Edison gave him a contract to distribute and market the tool throughout America.

He managed to become Edison's partner and made a big profit.

Besides that he achieved something greater, He proved that the power of mindset and persistence can bring success.

"When someone is really ready for something, something will come." - (quoted from the book "Think and Grow Rich" - Napoleon Hill)

Tune in to Channel P.

In my association I sometimes feel uncomfortable with a handful of people.

If there is such a person in an event that I am attending, it can sometimes make the mood go away. Or if there is an important event, and those people are present I will try to avoid. That sometimes make me have to pass on some important meetings.

One day I had a chance to talk to a leader that I respect, he advised, "You should focus on the positive things of that person, if he can be in that position, apart from things you don't like, there must be positive points that you can learn from the respective person".

That advice made me realised, why should I focus on the negatives of these people, thus avoiding me from taking the positives out of them.

That avoidance also cost myself, no chance to participate in an important event I was supposed to attend for building my network.

"Tune in to Channel P, The good thoughts Station. Find Qualities to like and admire in a person, not things to dislike. Think Positive Thoughts towards people - and get positive results"- from the book "The Magic of thinking Big" by David Schwartz.

Start Small.

If it is mentioned "Ingvar Kamprad" - probably many do not know who this figure is. However, if it is called IKEA probably almost everyone knows it is the name of the world's leading Furniture Company, which originated from Sweden.

The founder of this IKEA company is Ingvar Kamprad. Actually IKEA is an abbreviation of the name (I)ngvar (K)amprad who was born on a family farm named (E)lmtaryd, and near the village of (A)gunnaryd.

Ingvar Kamprad started his business by selling matches at the age of five. At the age of seven, he started selling to his neighbors by bicycle.

Then they started selling fish, Christmas tree decorations, pens and pencils. When he was 17, his father gave him a cash prize for completing his studies.

IKEA was founded in 1943 by selling the kitchen table, which made by his Uncle Ernst. Then in 1948, Kamprad expanded its production by venturing into the Furniture Industry. Then began to spread to countries in the world.

From this story, I learned that something big starts from small. Not infrequently I can't wait to achieve something big, but don't want to do the "Homework" just yet. Of course with such an attitude that great things will never be achieved.

There is a saying "Whoever is faithful in small things, he will also be faithful in big things". This means that if we do small things seriously, that attitude will be judged and people will trust us more. From there it will produce bigger jobs.

"A thousand miles of journey always begin with one step". - Lao Tzu

What do you think?

Turn Failure into Opportunity.

Post-it-Note is a small piece of paper that is usually affixed to a document as a marker or reminder.

The invention of Post-it-Note started with a failed product. In 1968 Dr. Spencer Silver, a scientist at the 3M company, is trying to develop a super-strong adhesive.

However, he accidentally created an adhesive that comes off easily and can be reusable.

For 5 years, He tried to convince this discovery in the company, but gained low support.

It wasn't until 1974 that his colleague, Art Fry, came up with the idea of using the adhesive to attach small pieces of paper to his Hymn book as markers.

In 1977 the 3M Company tried to market a product that was then called "Press 'N Peel" in four cities in America, but failed.

A year later 3M gave free product samples to customers in Boise, Idaho, 94% of those users were satisfied and said they would buy the product.

In 1979 the product was sold under the name "Post-its", and sold throughout America on April 6, 1980. A year later it was launched in Canada and in European countries.

Until now "Post-its" is one of the most widely used office tools.

Sometimes we see a failure as the end. If seen from this story, sometimes failure can be a new opportunity to something bigger.

In addition, Post-Its takes more than 10 years to succeed, so success always need a process.

Success is Not Instant, Embrace the Journey.