Creating Success from the Inside Out: Develop The Focus and Strategy To Uncover the Life You Want

II.5. Excuse Number Four: I Don't Have Enough Information and Knowledge

A lot of times when people say they don't have enough education, they're really saying they don't have the knowledge they feel they need to succeed in whatever the field is they've chosen. This excuse really feeds heavily into our fear of failure. Honest, hardworking people can become immobilized with feelings of inadequacy, especially when confronting unfamiliar details on a complex project. I have seen investors literally freeze up, unwilling to take a step in any direction when it comes to making a decision about their investing at all because of a real—or perceived—lack of knowledge.

So instead of trying to make significant gains—playing to win— some people seem overcome by the paralysis of analysis they play not to lose, in a futile attempt to personally gain every tiny piece of knowledge and information available before making a decision. And so they never make one until the opportunity has passed them by.

But if I don't have the time to understand all the ins and outs of a business, how can I ever get enough experience to do it profitably ... and not worry about losing money?

While knowledge itself is simple enough to attain, acquiring it is not necessarily an easy activity to fit into our already busy lives. It requires not just spare time, but focused, prioritized quality time to gain understanding. The good news is knowledge can be obtained, and more information resources are available to teach ...