Today we begin Chapter 5 of Mindset Mastery, a chapter focusing on specialized knowledge, which brings us to the fourth step toward wealth. In this chapter we learn that there are great differences between knowledge and education and more definitions for those words than what is traditionally held.

Let’s talk about specialized knowledge…

Specialized Knowledge – Personal Experiences Or Observations

There are two kinds of knowledge. One is general, the other is specialized. General knowledge, no matter how excessive or varied, is of little use in the accumulation of wealth. If you combined all the knowledge of all the professors of all the best Universities together, you would have in excess practically every form of general knowledge known to civilization. Most of the professors have little or no money. They specialize in teaching knowledge, but they do not specialize in the organization, or the use of knowledge.

Guiding Knowledge

Knowledge will not attract money unless it is organized and intelligently directed through practical plans of action, to the definite end of accumulating money. The lack of understanding of this fact has been the source of confusion to millions of people who wrongly 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.

What Is Education?

This “missing link” in all of today’s civilized educational systems can be found in the failure of educational institutions to teach their students how to organize and use knowledge after they acquire it.

Many people make the mistake of assuming that, because Henry Ford had very little “schooling,” he is not a man of “education.” In a similar, more modern example, people also incorrectly assume that Microsoft founder Bill Gates is not a man of “education” because he is a college (Harvard) drop-out. Those who make this mistake do not know much about Henry Ford or Bill Gates; nor do they understand the real meaning of the word “educate.”

The word educate word is derived from the Latin word “educo,” meaning to educe, to draw out, to develop from within.

Develop Your Power From Within

Having this knowledge levels the playing field in wealth creation. It shows us that no one is at a disadvantage just because he or she might not have a university degree. That is not what will make you wealthy. If you do have a degree, it might give you a tool to work with, but it is not enough by itself.

What every wealth creator needs to know is how to creatively apply knowledge and develop the mind to a point where it has the ability to focus and persist in building personal prosperity. That is something anyone with a mind can do. Wealth is for the person who sets his or her mind to it—it is not reserved for a few!

Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2009

Tagged as: Bill Gates, educate, Education, Henry Ford, knowledge, Microsoft, prosperity, Wealth