Knowledge Does Not Apply Itself. Well it would have been nice to know this sooner! I mean I earned my bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees in Information Science. And what about my master’s of arts in Leadership (thesis pending – another blog post maybe)?

Was I not “socialized to believe” that the more degrees and “knowledge” I had the more successful I would be? I knew at age 9 that I was going to college and going to work in corporate America. I KNEW! Yes, I grew up in the 60’s and education was the way to succeed. Yet, did I miss a day at school on it’s (education/knowledge) application? Haanel’s steps seem to make a lot more sense.

Imagine if I learned and knew the following at age 9. “Knowledge does not apply itself; we as individuals must make the application, and the application consists of fertilizing the thought with a living purpose.”

In Week 10, I shared how my interactions with my father as a youngster seemed to highlight his commitment to teaching me how to think and offer explanations or “purpose” for my behavior (https://2023-24.masterkeyexperience.blog/week-ten/2023/mke-week-10-laws-their-application/). Now as I ‘sit’ with this week’s lesson, I think of my father again and reflect on his dialogue about the author Ayn Rand. Yes, yet another blog post. Maybe.

So returning to my imagination, as life experience seems to be required to highlight the 3 step plan which Haanel shares: 12:4 . . .

“Eternal vigilance is the price of success. There are three steps, and each one is absolutely essential. You must first have the knowledge of your power; second, the courage to dare; third, the faith to do.”

The Master Key System, Charles Haanel, Chapter 12:4

My father had each of the four of us pick out an instrument at age six. We practiced our instrument of choice 60 minutes each day. It was automatic. This practice made other kids and probably some adults think that dad was in the military. Nope. He was just committed to developing “good citizens”.

This practice was one of many ways of teaching us life skills that made us all successful good citizens. Was this his attempt at teaching us the lessons of Haanel at an early age? I know, I wouldn’t have understood Haanel at age 9, yet boy do I give my father credit for the “practice” he instilled in us.

Coming full circle, I am learning Haanel and Universal Laws and I am practicing.