KNOWLEDGE vs WISDOM

Yesterday morning, while in Bendemeer Food Centre for “law mai kai”, I met an old friend called Ah Ter.

Ah Ter used to work for me when I owned a company building robots. He is a very smart chap. Give him an electrical problem, and he will find a solution within hours, sometimes days.

Ah Ter has heard from our friends that I am retired with the help of my rental properties in SG.

Here goes our conversation ….

Ah Ter asked :

, you ho-say, can retire liao. Teach me ley…. (( “ho say” is a local slang for “doing well” or something like that … ))

Me : I just buy properties that gives me pocket money and when I have enough, I retire lor.

Ah Ter : So easy meh?

Me : Yes, its that easy. I have seen you repair robots, you made it seem easy too.

Ah Ter : Its easy because I have done this many times.

Me : Same same with property lor. I have done this more than 100 times.

Ah Ter : Got meh ? I have read many books on property investing. I also read your book. But then hor, I still blur blur.

Me smiled and said : Kam sia for buying my book. You probably know more than me as you have read many books.

Ah Ter : No ley, everytime I finished a book, I felt there is more to learn. I also watched your videos and every time I finished, I feel there is more to learn.

Me : Hey brother, this is very common. I have taught thousands of students and heard similar things. Do you want to know why ?

Ah Ter pulled up the mask as a few pretty girls in uniform and tag approached and asked : Why ?

I pulled down my mask and sipped my coffee : You must know the difference between Knowledge and Wisdom.

Ah Ter : Lu gong si mi … (( what talking you ? ))

Me : Let me ask you, when you repair a robot, do you know everything about the robot then repair ?

Ah Ter : How to know everything, its impossible la. With just enough knowledge, I can repair liao. If I cannot repair, then I go seek more knowledge.

Me : Aha, Property Investing is same same lor. Learn so much for what. Learn enough can liao. Go home apply, every month get pocket money and enjoy life immediately lor. You think the farmer who gave us these vegetables had PHD knowledge on soil, climate, water and seeds? I don’t think so.

I paused to pull up the mask as the pretty girls come closer….

Me : The farmer probably knows enough to grow healthy vegetables and also enough to change the crops every season.

Ah Ter looked me, eyes big and mouth open and said : I think I know the problem liao. I want to know everything. So I end up doing nothing. Is this correct?

Me : Yes, that’s exactly right. This is not school exams. Impossible to know everything and score 100%. Easiest way is to go seek an experienced coach. One who has wisdom, one who has made mistakes, one who has success. One who started poor then become rich. And then follow him.

The pretty girls strolled past and I pulled down my mask to drink coffee, while thinking inside me “ they could be from Singapore Airlines… hmmm “.

Me added : I have seen you guided the new employees. You always tell them to do as you said and asked questions later. And it worked so well for you. So I suggest you consider, copy first, ask question later.

AT : Waaa, you are so different now. The way you speak. So few words, so much wisdom.

Me : Ah Ter, that’s because I know the difference between Knowledge & Wisdom.

AT saw his wife coming and said : Quickly faster tell me ley, my tigress coming.

I turned and saw a lady approaching … he is not totally incorrect with his description.

So I spoke quickly : Knowledge allows you to take action. Wisdom is gained from the Results on applying Knowledge. What we all want is Wisdom, not Knowledge. If I want Knowledge, I go search internet and get plenty of it. Would I get rich? No! If I want to be rich, I have to apply the Knowledge and from there I will know what works and what did not work. This is Wisdom. Applying Wisdom is what makes me rich. Not Knowledge.

AT’s eyes nearly popped. He stood up and waved bye bye as his wife was few steps away.

I knew he gotten my message…. Difference between Knowledge and Wisdom.

I sat there for a while to finish my coffee and thought for a moment.

I wished I had said this to him “Knowledge is abundant in the internet and bookstore. Wisdom is scarce”.

I will text him later.

I looked at the coffee cup. It’s made of thick clay. This is a good example of Knowledge vs Wisdom.

If the cup is thin, the hot coffee will burn my hands…. That’s Knowledge.

Most people like the coffee hot… that’s Knowledge.

So this cup has a handle for me pick it up and drink the coffee… that is Wisdom.

The wall of this cup is very thick so the coffee can stay hot longer, this is Wisdom.

The cup is durable and made to last thousands of washes too…. that is also Wisdom.

I traveled around the world in search of Teachers who can impart Wisdom. And found them. They help me become better Investors, a better Person.

I also met many “Teachers” who only impart Knowledge. They help me in different ways.

I realized that a few of these Teachers who have “been there, done that” impacts me the most. I almost immediately become a better Investor, a better Person. This is priceless.

To me, Wisdom is a much bigger key to success than Knowledge.

Before I sign off in this message, can you tell me how many examples of Wisdom vs Knowledge I have given in the above message ?

Love,

Investor, Practitioner & Full-Time Coach