I start my live workshops and online classes by asking participants to monitor their thoughts.
Alarms should go off whenever they find themselves thinking “Yeah, I already know that.”
These are dangerous words because they are often used in place of action.
“I know that,” when referring to ideas for improving your business, is completely different from “I am doing that.”
Self Check
Did you just hear about it in a class?
Did you read about it in a book?
Are you embracing it as a good idea?
Or are you actually implementing the concept?
13 thoughts on “Implementing Is Worlds Beyond Knowing”
This is exactly why I put a moratorium on online and e-classes for 2012! Because I supposedly “know” so much but know I haven’t acted on all these things I’ve been shown and taught. So 2012 has been the year of recommending things to others, and then reviewing those things from my own files and finding bits to DO from them.
My problem is I’m pretty good at implementing at first, but it goes in cycles. So do, do ,do, then rest. Then realise I’ve been resting too long and gotten out of the habit of doing.
Tina: It doesn’t seem to me like you have an implementation problem. I think we all go in cycles and can forgive ourselves for the down times.
PS: Love the moratorium idea!
I’m exactly like you Tina. Fits and starts; esp with posting to Facebook and writing blog posts and the like.
In trying to break the fit and start cycle I have been disciplining myself to do at least one small thing a day. I’m great for sharing things that I find and learn but sometimes I’m the shoe maker (there’s a pun eh Alyson) with holes in my shoes.
I’ve tried sharing your classes Alyson with a particular friend who always says “I know that all that stuff:” I see she has implemented little. Now I see what question I have for her next is: ” What will it take for you to implement it?” A class with support?
I’ve got a post for you, Susan!
https://aaartbizold.wpengine.com/2009/09/fixer.html
But it is nice that you want to help your friend. Not everyone is accepting of our help.
30 years of teaching school and attending workshops and seminars as both a teacher and as an artist, I’ve observed that when people fold their arms and say, “I already know all this…” it is merely a defensive move, because deep down they are not at all sure they know about this new concept, they are not at all sure they are capable of understanding the new concept, and they are afraid (or too lazy) to try to assimilate something new into their own established paradigms. Also, I’ve noticed that whenever I make it known that I am open to suggestion and willing to learn from somebody else, they take mistake my willingness as ignorance and assume that I know absolutely nothing about anything and it their duty to impart every little bit of knowledge they’ve ever learned onto me. So, it’s a difficult position, to be receptive to new things, but to also be respected for what you DO know and what you already believe to be true. I good instructor has to be aware that his participants are hanging in that balance.
Katherine: So what do you do when students cross their arms?
Yes Katherine, what Alyson asked. I’m soon to be face to face with 25 artists in a website workshop for the first time. Yikes what if they all cross their arms 😉
I am so like Tina – get doing then for various reasons stop doing. The usual reasons for this interruption include emergencies (caregiving my mother is rife with these) or doing too many things and becoming so overwhelmed that almost everything gets dropped. Another reason is that results are not sufficiently positive within what I think is a reasonable time. I am finding that I have to be very particular with my choices and continue to put off things that I really want to give a better chance to doing. Unfortunately this has resulted in my NOT doing things that I want to do and that require a very strict structure (time-wise, at least) in order to make a habit (I am thinking specifically of my eNewsletter and blog).
I have occasionally thought “yes, I know that but I’m not convinced it is apropos for me” rather than just “I know that already.” Unless that last is accompanied by “but HOW?” Know theory doesn’t necessarily include knowing HOW as well.
(Aside: When I cross my arms it usually means, “why is it so cold in here? Turn off the air conditioner, please.”
I find it difficult to face this situation when you are trying to explain something and the others seem to know all about it … the point is between ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’ it there is a long distance!!! so I challenge myself to really prove if I know something by doing it and I do the same with the others… Fear goes away. hope this helps:-)
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I’ve found over and over again that hearing, reading, learning or otherwise “knowing” are far different than implementing. There is the obvious difference of the former not reaping any of the benefits of the latter. But beyond that each time I’ve applied and implemented something I thought I knew I’ve realized there was more to it and applying it to my own situation took more thought than I expected. Knowing can really only come after you’ve implemented.