It Pays to Know How to Purchase Knowledge
First of all, decide the sort of specialized knowledge you require, and the purpose for which it is needed. To a large extent your major purpose in life, the goal toward which you are working, will help determine what knowledge you need. With this question settled, your next move requires that you have accurate information concerning dependable sources of knowledge. The more important of these are:
- One’s own experience and education
- Experience and education available through cooperation of others (Master Mind Alliance)
- Colleges and Universities
- Public Libraries (Through books and periodicals in which may be found all the knowledge organized by civilization)
- Special Training Courses (Through night schools and home study schools in particular.)
As knowledge is acquired it must be organized and put into use, for a definite purpose, through practical plans. Knowledge has no value except that which can be gained from its application toward some worthy end. This is one reason why college degrees are not valued more highly. They represent nothing but miscellaneous knowledge.
If you contemplate taking additional schooling, first determine the purpose for which you want the knowledge you are seeking, then learn where this particular sort of knowledge can be obtained, from reliable sources.
Successful men, in all callings, never stop acquiring specialized knowledge related to their major purpose, business, or profession. Those who are not successful usually make the mistake of believing that the knowledge acquiring period ends when one finishes school. The truth is that schooling does but little more than to put one in the way of learning how to acquire practical knowledge.
With this Changed World which began at the end of the economic collapse, came also astounding changes in educational requirements. The order of the day is specialization! This truth was emphasized by Robert P. Moore, secretary of appointments of Columbia University.
* Source: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill