Week 22 – Specialized Knowledge

In continuing with the Franklin Makeover, the virtue I am working on this week is Specialized Knowledge. In looking for a definition, I found this excerpt in Chapter 5 from Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich.  It suits my needs perfectly and I found this information extremely helpful in understanding.

“CHAPTER 5

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OR OBSERVATIONS

The Fourth Step toward Riches

THERE are two kinds of knowledge. One is general, the other is specialized. General knowledge, no matter how great in quantity or variety it may be, is of but little use in the accumulation of money. The faculties of the great universities possess, in the aggregate, practically every form of general knowledge known to civilization. Most of the professors have but little or no money. They specialize on teaching knowledge, but they do not specialize on the organization, or the use of knowledge.

KNOWLEDGE will not attract money, unless it is organized, and intelligently directed, through practical PLANS OF ACTION, to the DEFINITE END of accumulation of money. Lack of understanding of this fact has been the source of confusion to millions of people who falsely believe that “knowledge is power.” It is nothing of the sort! Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end.

This “missing link” in all systems of education known to civilization today, may be found in the failure of educational institutions to teach their students HOW TO ORGANIZE AND USE KNOWLEDGE AFTER THEY ACQUIRE IT.

An educated man is not, necessarily, one who has an abundance of general or specialized knowledge. An educated man is one who has so developed the faculties of his mind that he may acquire anything he wants, or its equivalent, without violating the rights of others.

Before you can be sure of your ability to transmute DESIRE into its monetary equivalent, you will require SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE of the service, merchandise, or profession which you intend to offer in return for fortune. Perhaps you may need much more specialized knowledge than you have the ability or the inclination to acquire, and if this should be true, you may bridge your weakness through the aid of your “Master Mind” group.

This week I volunteered as a table assistant in a bodywork class. I came to this class with a new awareness as I have been in this MKMMA course for some time now. These students were just beginning their journey in this particular type of bodywork and I realized I have been practicing some 8 years already. I knew the protocol, having practiced it thousands of times. I could relax with that knowledge in my tool kit. I enjoyed sharing my specialized knowledge with this group of newbies. During my time in this MKMMA course something rather dramatic has changed for me. Not sure exactly where in the course or because of what in the course. The big difference for me has been a realization. A change in perception or thought ! Imagine that! I used to think I was here for something more than bodywork. Something much bigger and that something was “out – there”, and as soon as I acquired enough specialized knowledge I would get “there”, or maybe I needed to let go more, or get more energy work,  raise my consciousness, etc.  The totally cool shift is, I decided to live my life as if this were it! My life isn’t waiting to happen, it isn’t “out – there” but “in – here “. So, what would I do differently in my bodywork if this is as good as it gets, if bodywork is my purpose. Did I want to wow people with my skill set? Impress them with my knowledge of the human body? No, the answer for me is so simple. What did I want as a receiver? I wanted to be touched, really touched. Then, what could I do differently. I could control my thoughts. I could be present, really present. I could be the observer. Really listen. When my mind starts to wonder, bring it back, what is under my fingers? Touch the person as if I were touching Jesus Christ. Why? Because this brings all of it together. The reverence, the wonderment of the human body, the awe, the miracle, the gift.  This has been so exciting for me and elevated my work to a whole new dimension.

More on this later, thanks for reading my blog!