Chapter 16 Investing in knowledge

Knowledge is a powerful thing thing. When we don’t know about something, we’re protected by ignorance -justified even sometimes. When we know about something, we have a responsibility to share – to dissipate the knowledge for the common good, be it for the betterment of the team, the attainment of company goals, and as a result the improvement of ones position.

Knowledge is not just academia. It doesn’t only come in the form of books, sites, blogs, journals … but it’s also an accumulation of in-house expertise, knowledge of the companies policies and procedures and knowledge about products/services/clients/trends and so on. It’s organically collected, mentally stored along the way, strategically ploughed, and intentionally picked. It is through this knowledge on and off the job, that we can aim higher and be better.

Which is why we see a whole new generation of degrees and diplomas developing at every corner. Specialized knowledge, has become the choice de jour, afterall there’s a market for every demand and for every demand theirs a specialized product or service. The more specific your knowledge, the more premium is your demand. The wider your knowledge, the more opportunities will exist for you. It’s a choice to make and to consider when balancing out what really interests you in this world and what trends are unfolding around us.

The lesson here is simple – do not expect to land in a position of trust if you haven’t invested in your knowledge. And don’t be fooled into thinking that knowledge is only for the higher paying roles. Every role has its own rules to play by and every player comes with his own knowledge box.

Accurate speed for typer, IT proficiency for the administrator, sales acumen for the representative, better phone skills for the receptionist, psychological insights for the HR exec …there’s always a stronger card to pick from the pack and there’s always someone who can deal a better hand. Such is life, and life is competitive. So stay ahead and invest in your knowledge and never look back.