Learning, but not doing

[andrew]

I don't know about you guys, but I love learning. Not forced learning like school, but out on my own in the world. A lot of it is personal development.

So I get really into it right, so I keep learning and learning, I have all this knowledge. Great, so what?

I think one of my problems is that I just keep learning, and I don't just get out there and do. Now not all the times, sometimes it's the other way around. I'm usually proactive and I go and do, well, recently.

But sometimes I learn something, try it, fail a few times, and go back to learn more about it. But there are just some things you just have to go out and do, esp social things. Sometimes the solution isn't learning more, it's practicing more, and I think that's one of my downfalls. Now this isn't my general way, but once in a while there are things that I do this to. I'm not sure if it's the norm or the exception for me.

Does anybody else seem to notice this sometimes? I think this is one of the dangers of sites like Steve's: there's just so much to learn, you just want to keep learning it, but don't really just go out and do it.

[MercuryLime]

I think that's true - a lot of us have the tendency to value stuff that "sounds true" over stuff that actually works in real life.

Personally, I know that I'll use what I read in real life, because deep down, I want to improve myself.

[A.K.Light]

I can definitely relate. I'm a knowledge junkie. I've probably read enough to keep me busy for years and years if I actually tried applying everything I've learned. Yet, for some reason, I always want more. I don't see anything wrong with that, because learning is one of my hobbies...

However, I can also see how it might slow a person down. The author offers good information, article by article, chapter by chapter, but they can't stop you from reading the rest of the book before you're ready. I think people want to think more than they want to listen. So when chapter one says "Do this now", they think "Yeah right, maybe after I've read the book, researched it, and thought about it first."

I imagine a lot of people have some level of difficulty with this. A little self control might help. For example, don't read any new stuff until you have mastered the stuff you've already read. One chapter at a time...

Or have somebody keep track of your progress, and they can give you pages out of a book after you've proven to them that you're ready to move on!

[Milo Riano]

You don't have to think much about using what you have learned because without you knowing it you are applying what you have learned in everyday small activities you engage in. Though sometimes, you would feel what you have learned have been used at great lenght.

[Brendon Colby]

I think I'm the same way. I've read tons of personal development books, gone through almost all Tony Robbin's materials, listened to tons of other personal development audio (Alan Watts, Jack Kornfield, Wayne Dyer, Stephen Covey, etc.) and have (of course) read almost all Steve's articles and listened to all his podcasts. The application of all this material seems to have been a very slow process for me though. I realized lately that I've been quite heavy on outcome visioning and brainstorming (the what and the how) but seriously lacking in purpose (the why?), in organization and definitely in doing (to use Dave Allen's terms). I think the root cause of the lack of action on my part has always been a general lack of purpose in my life (what's the point? why bother? etc.) Even with the help of all this material I have struggled a lot with purpose! As in, I would know what outcome I wanted and generally how to get there, but never have the drive to actually DO it. So my purpose is definitely still a work in progress.

I also have to say that after seeing the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle seemingly everywhere (talked about here, recommended book list, catching my eye at every book store, etc.) for several months now, I finally purchased a copy last week. Some very deep questions of mine, some I've had for years, have finally been answered by this book!

[David Hausladen]

I know what you mean, andrew: I do a ton of research and deliberation before acting, but I don't think it's necessarily a problem. Even if you focus on the internal side of things (learning, thinking, discovering) too much, eventually the corresponding actions and circumstances will creep into your life.

Examples: I heard that Brian Tracy started into business and personal development by reading every relevant book in the public library. Buckminster Fuller, immediately after discovering his life purpose, went for two years without speaking in order to gain the ability to think clearly. And, of course, Jesus spent 40 days (which in Bible-ese just means "a long time") in the desert before he started his ministry.

So I wouldn't get too worried if you're not presently acting on what you've spent a ton of time learning and thinking about it. Once you've thought about it enough (without distraction or contradiction), you'll bring it into your life. (Earl Nightingale: "We become what we think about.")

I hope that's helpful.

[Paul C]

Also, the transition into a life of specific purpose doesn't have to be an over night event. Taking small steps towards how you want to be could be the way.

Personally, I'm narrowing down what my purpose may be by constantly asking myself the question: Do I enjoy what i'm doing at the moment? (or, more straight forward: What is my purpose?)

Maybe it's just a matter of trying as many new activites as possible until you find what 'clicks' for you (depending on your current situation).

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by MercuryLime

I think that's true - a lot of us have the tendency to value stuff that "sounds true" over stuff that actually works in real life.

Well said, there's no point in adopting something or having a belief system unless it empowers you to be a better person and live a better life. Knowledge is power, but action will usually be a requirement, took me years to find the right thing that helps me live a better life and see everything better.

Whatever floats your boat and feels right

[Sheeo]

I definitely feel the same way, and from what the other posts in this topic tells me--there are a lot of us like that For me the problem is general--I'm more of a theoretical guy rather than a practical guy, call me a greek, if you will.

So what I'd like is more tips on how to convert this tremendeous theoretical energy we have, into practical doing. Anyone?

[child]

I was like that, always learning and not practising. I dont know, maybe i was searching for a perfect method, 'the method' that will rule them all. Also maybe i was afraid that if i miss some important knowledge the practise would be harmfull. (For some cases like diet, exercsing you really should learn a lot. But in most cases you should just begin practising whatever you got in your hand.) I was buying books after books and when i really learn the theory i was changing direction.

Then i read Pavlina's self-discipline series, worked on that and in three months i become a totally different person (I became a vegetarian, early riser (just 07:00 but early for me), more productive, regularly exercising guy, quit smoking, coke, junk food etc., get organised and much more )

Just accept that we re not really learning by reading, only by doing it. I recommend little steps and 30 day trial method that Steve Pavlina wrote about.

[child]

I forgot, another tip: I listed every method, technique, every meditation, affirmation etc i have learned for years, i put every personal development book in front of me. I picked the ones that seemed more resonable for me and completely ignored the others. I usually picked the easy ones not forcing myself too much and began working on them. One of them, for example, writing my long term goals every morning like Chris posted in another thread.

[kljsadfhklj]

I'm usually a knowledge junky too, but sometimes when I find some extremely nice pieces of info I put'em in practice right after reading. For going vegetarian, for example, I had read that "you don't need meat to survive" one night, and in the other day I didn't eat meat anymore.

One thing to help with this reading-but-not-doing thing is learning music, because you HAVE to practice to make sure you've learn it right (points to the violin).

[placebo]

I'm exactly like you people. But few days ago i was hanging around with my friend and started about our favourite topic, girls etc. Then I said one sentence, they all shut up looked at me and one friend said : "You have so great way of looking at life". I felt happy about that, i felt that reading that huge amount of books is finally giving results. I am changing but i'm not fully aware of it. You're probably not aware of it too, but watch around every day. Some small thing like that sentence of my friend will give you sign that you are doing something and that books influenced you more than you can imagine.

[Henrik]

Excellent thread. Being somewhat of a knowledge-junkie I´ve experienced this too and think this a pretty common problem. I wrote about it a bit in my article Do not get stuck in reading

And I really like placebo´s reply. I´ve found that to be true in my life too.

[andrew]

Just out of curiosity, what was it that you said placebo?

I've had a few things like that myself when I talk to people about dating and such, they're like wow you really know a lot for your age. And when I mentioned not saying anti war bur pro peace, because it focuses on a a negitive and war and that's where the energy is. They were like wow too.

It's a nice feeling, and you're right, just by reading and learning it affects your outlook on things. There are a lot of things still that you don't really need to practice to use, and you learn them and it's like okay, I got it, but you still need to put an effort to be aware of it at first until it becomes assimilated into you.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by andrew

I don't know about you guys, but I love learning. Not forced learning like school, but out on my own in the world. A lot of it is personal development.

So I get really into it right, so I keep learning and learning, I have all this knowledge. Great, so what?

I think one of my problems is that I just keep learning, and I don't just get out there and do. Now not all the times, sometimes it's the other way around. I'm usually proactive and I go and do, well, recently.

But sometimes I learn something, try it, fail a few times, and go back to learn more about it. But there are just some things you just have to go out and do, esp social things. Sometimes the solution isn't learning more, it's practicing more, and I think that's one of my downfalls. Now this isn't my general way, but once in a while there are things that I do this to. I'm not sure if it's the norm or the exception for me.

Does anybody else seem to notice this sometimes? I think this is one of the dangers of sites like Steve's: there's just so much to learn, you just want to keep learning it, but don't really just go out and do it.

Hi Andrew

Yep. It all comes down to taking MASSIVE ACTION. In fact its better I think to take action based on ignorance than no-action based on a foundation of knowledge.

Getting the balance is key I think. I work in a sales environment and I am always looking for a better way to do it. But too often I lose site of the abc's of selling which basically is a numbers game. As long as you ask/show enough people they will buy from you. However, it is always a struggle for me to keep in touch with this principle.

I really struggle with goal setting and I think this might be an issue, or it might be a sub-conscious fear of failure etc.

Its a work in progress as they say.

[stockaholic]

This is an issue I struggle with daily. For me, I think it is a form of procrastination, and is also part of my personality. When I don't feel like doing something, I read or surf the net. It makes me feel like I am bettering myself (and hopefully I am), even though I should really be doing something. One of the enlightening moments related to this occurred when I went to a leadership conference at work. We took a personality test, which I have done before, and as before, came out as an INTP. One of the traits of this personality type is that I like to figure things out and learn things, but get bored once I figure them out. This helps explain why I design new projects for my woodworking hobby but rarely complete them, why I write business plans but rarely implement them, etc.

It is frustrating for me to have many ideas and many tasks that need to get done, but to not act on them. Part of it, I believe, is wanting to make sure I am optimizing my time. In the process of figuring out what to do, I "waste" time by analyzing which task is most appropriate to complete. In my most productive days, I refer to my next action list and projects list (GTD disciple - but that is another post), pick something and do it. One of the books I am reading now is Maltz's Psycho-Cybernetics. One of the key principles is that you set a course, go, course correct, go some more, course correct...My takeaway from this is that it is not important to have the perfect plan, or even an optimized plan, but rather to have A plan and act on it with the knowledge that I will refine the plan as I go. This is also a key principle in Paul Graham's writings on start-up companies.

As I said at the start, this is a daily struggle for me. Some days are good and some leave me feeling as if not much, if anything was accomplished. For me, it is very important to keep focused (tough to do with lots of ideas) with my "eyes on the prize" (goals). I do well when I refer to my goals daily, but this is something I have not had the discipline to do over an extended period of time.

[Mohit Pawar]

Originally Posted by andrew

I don't know about you guys, but I love learning. Not forced learning like school, but out on my own in the world. A lot of it is personal development.

So I get really into it right, so I keep learning and learning, I have all this knowledge. Great, so what?

I think one of my problems is that I just keep learning, and I don't just get out there and do. Now not all the times, sometimes it's the other way around. I'm usually proactive and I go and do, well, recently.

But sometimes I learn something, try it, fail a few times, and go back to learn more about it. But there are just some things you just have to go out and do, esp social things. Sometimes the solution isn't learning more, it's practicing more, and I think that's one of my downfalls. Now this isn't my general way, but once in a while there are things that I do this to. I'm not sure if it's the norm or the exception for me.

Does anybody else seem to notice this sometimes? I think this is one of the dangers of sites like Steve's: there's just so much to learn, you just want to keep learning it, but don't really just go out and do it.

Andrew,

This is a simple situation and happens with many of us. In fact, this is a happy situation to be because you are one step closer to success that those who are too lazy to learn new things. Learning equips one with knowledge to take right action.

1. Put action time first. Keep action time in your day before learning time. Read, discuss and learn say after lunch. Utilize first part of the day or early morning hours as action hours. I have used it may times to get into act for important projects.

Author Dan Brown (Da Vinci Code) loves to start writing at 4.00 in the morning as per Meet Dan»FAQs»Official Website of Dan Brown

2. Know your motivation behind learning. On a deeper level see what your motivation behind learning is; is it

• The desire to do better work
• Become a better person
• Need to project your self as a knowledgeable individual
• Fear that your actions may not result in success

Make a sincere effort to live consciously and learn for the right reasons. It is easier said than done but worth the effort.

3. Balance is important. Devote some time to realize what you love doing. Good if it is same thing that earns you your bread and BUTTER . If both are different, try devoting time to both as per current priorities. At the same time keep on doing things which will take you closer to the work you love.

You as a web developer need learning in that field. Weigh the time, zero in on the topic you want to learn about and choose 4-7 good resources in that field.

Steve's site and other resources on the web are can be accessed through various categories. Pick the ones which you find most relevant.

[thadroe]

Yep, I'm another one who has had a major problem taking action in my life. I feel it's starting to change though.

Not sure where I read this, maybe on Steve Pavlina...can't remember..but I've started to overcome this problem by thinking about a lot of things like this:

Pretend you are a lumberjack with an axe to chop down a tree. All your learning, reading, studying, etc. is like sharpening the axe...which is great...but at some point you have to start swinging the axe, even if it's just to test and see if it's sharp enough yet. You will periodically need to stop and sharpen the axe again, but you at least have to start swinging at some point to see what happens.

It was worded much better when I heard it... but I think you all get the idea.

Thad

[Zulu]

This thread really hits home. Sometimes I think I actually enjoy learning about self-improvement more so than the self-improvement!

I think ideally you'd spend 50% of your time applying what you've read and 50% of your time reading new material.

[carl]

Like many of you, this thread really hits home. I've had great success in the last year turning my knowledge into action by hiring a coach. Through his advice and prompting I accomplished more in a year than I dreamed possible, and I know I'm poised to continue achieving.

Another key is to consider this one of your strengths, and structure your life accordingly. I recently took the strengthsfinder assessment that came with the book "Now, Discover Your Strengths", by Buckingham and CLifton. My top 5 strengths were:

1. Input
2. Achiever
3. Strategic
4. Intellection
5. Futuristic

where Input is effectively the accumulation of knowledge, and Intellection identifies that I like the process of thinking itself. Achiever, Strategic and Futuristic specifiy accomplishment, planning and vision. Combined, it screams "personal development junkie" to me .

Notice that Activator (the ability to turn thoughts into action) is not on this list. This is why my coach was such a benefit to me - he spurred me into action where I wasn't taking any.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by carl

Like many of you, this thread really hits home. I've had great success in the last year turning my knowledge into action by hiring a coach. Through his advice and prompting I accomplished more in a year than I dreamed possible, and I know I'm poised to continue achieving.

Another key is to consider this one of your strengths, and structure your life accordingly. I recently took the strengthsfinder assessment that came with the book "Now, Discover Your Strengths", by Buckingham and CLifton. My top 5 strengths were:

1. Input
2. Achiever
3. Strategic
4. Intellection
5. Futuristic

where Input is effectively the accumulation of knowledge, and Intellection identifies that I like the process of thinking itself. Achiever, Strategic and Futuristic specifiy accomplishment, planning and vision. Combined, it screams "personal development junkie" to me .

Notice that Activator (the ability to turn thoughts into action) is not on this list. This is why my coach was such a benefit to me - he spurred me into action where I wasn't taking any.

Carl, Can you develop this idea of a 'coach'. What, where, when, why? etc

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by carl

My top 5 strengths were:

1. Input
2. Achiever
3. Strategic
4. Intellection
5. Futuristic

where Input is effectively the accumulation of knowledge, and Intellection identifies that I like the process of thinking itself. Achiever, Strategic and Futuristic specifiy accomplishment, planning and vision. Combined, it screams "personal development junkie" to me .

It screams "INTJ" to me. Have you checked your Myer-Briggs type yet?

[dadeon]

It's important to realize that the real purpose of knowledge is action!

It's great to learn new/cool stuff, but why if you are not going to use and apply it. Learning is often a 'weak excuse' and it makes you feel like you are doing something. The truth is that without action you simply won't get the results that you are really after when learning it in the first place.

Information is worthless if you can't apply it and put it to use.

"The great aim of education is not knowledge but action." -Herbert Spencer

I used to struggle with this and it drove me up the wall. It's only when I started applying what I learned and what I knew that I was able to start producing some real results.

I've got a free course that I (appropriately) call A Course Of Action and it is aimed at exactly this 'knowing, but not doing' problem. You can enroll for free here:
http://www.selfimprovement-gym.com

[JJH]

... and the purpose of action is enjoyment!

[dadeon]

.
"Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action." - Benjamin Disraeli

[niyati]

Originally Posted by thadroe

Yep, I'm another one who has had a major problem taking action in my life. I feel it's starting to change though.

Not sure where I read this, maybe on Steve Pavlina...can't remember..but I've started to overcome this problem by thinking about a lot of things like this:

Pretend you are a lumberjack with an axe to chop down a tree. All your learning, reading, studying, etc. is like sharpening the axe...which is great...but at some point you have to start swinging the axe, even if it's just to test and see if it's sharp enough yet. You will periodically need to stop and sharpen the axe again, but you at least have to start swinging at some point to see what happens.

It was worded much better when I heard it... but I think you all get the idea.

Thad

Maybe you were thinking of Abraham Lincoln's, "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four sharpening the axe."

Or perhaps someone who quoted him and expanded upon the idea.

[esn]

Are we inadvertently trained into Learning for Learning's Sake ?

In our lives, how much do we learn from 'doing' versus learn from reading or studying ?


Best Wishes,
Eric

[Liara Covert]

More than enough information definitely exists "out there" to enable us to continue learning for many lifetimes, if that's what we choose to do.

I'm particularly struck by concepts in a book by John Ralston Saul called "Equilibrium." I think our life is meant to enable us to explore how we each have different qualities that contribute to our own kind of intelligence. This doesn't imply we should try to learn everything or necessarily as much as we can. Rather, it implies we should follow a path of choices that enable us to develop self-confidence and practical skills to think and act responsibly. For some people, this kind of writing is too general. If you prefer a list of ideas to choose from, work with that instead. The key is to take action, not only read.

Ultimately, it's up to each of us to figure out what it takes to achieve our own sense of balance and make related contributions to the world. What reinforces your sense of self-worth won't necessarily make your best friend feel like he's doing something useful. We all have roles we can perform to benefit other people. To what degree we confront our fears and explore our deepest interests is up to each of us as individuals. It's less important how much you do that the quality of what you do and the motivation behind it. It's also very meaningful to feel grateful for whatever contributions you make, however you enrich the lives of others, no matter how large or how small.

"Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.”- Eileen Caddy

[Narz]

I think the key is to get others to do for you.