The Difference Between Knowing and Doing
- Jan 21, 2021
- 4 min read
Written by: Mark Sephton, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It is interesting to pause and hold space for contemplation when considering the difference between knowing and doing. The reality is that we can all have knowledge. We have access to so much information. We gather information from people, history, stories, books, archives, social media, and google. We have more information thrown at us each day. Is our problem really having or not having knowledge? We all have so much knowledge at our fingertips.
Knowing is not just about knowledge. It’s not simply just about what we read or consume. It's not always about what our mind can perceive or its ability to retain information and have the ability to bring that information to mind. Knowing can also be found in the heart or even the gut. That's why we hear from time to time to follow our gut. Some frame this as intuition, others a sixth sense, and perhaps even our inner voice.
Knowing can probably be equally explained as knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is important to understand what it is to know something. It’s important to know who we are and who we are not. It is important to know our abilities and our limitations. Knowing is good. It's the first step to a breakthrough, and it's the first step to accomplishment. Without knowing, we don’t have the understanding, truth, or knowledge of something.
The reason I am writing this piece is because there is a lot of knowledge out there. There is a lot of information out in the world. As a mentor and coach, I have consumed huge amounts of content, books, and stories. I have also gathered lots of knowledge through personal experiences, adventures, failings, and setbacks. In essence, when people hire me to be their coach or mentor, they are actually paying me for my brain, my experiences, my understanding, and my knowledge.
The one thing that concerns me the most is despite all this knowing—knowing how, knowing why, knowing when, we end up not doing or not being. The main difference between knowing and doing is action—action-based on truth, based on facts, and information. We are in such a privileged state, and I don’t know if we are just taking advantage of the abundance of knowing, or we’ve become lazy or have just become accustomed to others picking up the pieces, spoon-feeding us truth.
The biggest challenge right now is despite knowing what to do. We don’t do it. Despite knowing who we really are, we allow some stranger or troll to knock us off course. That despite all the wisdom, information, and knowledge, we still don’t apply it. Knowledge is not king, and applied knowledge is king. We can know that something is true, but until we do that which is true, we will understand it but not a revelation of it. We can know the truth through someone else or have the revelation of truth by experiencing it ourselves.
We may be in a position where we want to lose weight. We may know that we need to exercise, enough sleep, balanced diet. We all know this, and yet despite our knowing, we do not do. Why? Knowing the truth about losing weight won’t make you lose weight. It’s applying that knowledge of eating right, sleeping enough, and exercising regularly, which will take the truth and make it into revelation. Applied knowledge is what takes a thought of information and turns it into an act of revelation.
To simply know how something works does not make it tangible in your life, you can read my books, and you can read my articles, but none of what I say will manifest in your life unless you apply what I say. That is the main difference between knowing and doing. We must take all this information we consume daily. Decide what is your truth and then apply it.
If you have never taken time to pause and consider why you don’t do that which you know is true, then please do it now. Please don’t waste another day knowing what needs to be done and not having the revelation of doing it through action.
If you want me to help you take what you know and turn it into something you do, then please reach out to me, and we can communicate further.
Feel free to follow Mark on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, or email Mark at info@marksephton.com
You can buy his books Inside Job & Plot Twist on Amazon!
Mark Sephton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Mark Sephton is a personal mentor to entrepreneurs. His mission to help others has seen him break into global markets while working with startups and millionaire entrepreneurs worldwide. Mark's love for entrepreneurship has been expressed through serving as TV host of the show "One More Round." Mark is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine and a speaker for corporate events, entrepreneurship summits, and major conferences worldwide when not on the big screen. His personal and professional development expertise has positioned him as an expert in the industry, resulting in transformational experiences for audiences, clients, and businesses alike.
