Knower or Learner?

Are you a knower or a learner?  This is an important question to consider as you put the pieces of your dream together because you will need to learn how to be a learner to walk into your dream.

So what are the characteristics of a knower?

Some knowers are confident in their accumulated experience of how their world works. When they face a new circumstance, they tend to compare it with past experience to determine the right way to respond.  They look for similarities to previous situations then look for the strategy that served them well before and apply it to the new situation.  These people can be confident and effective leaders, and often make decisions quickly.  When taken to the extreme, however, these knowers may become paralyzed by missing new, game changing strategies.  They tend to believe that what is needed for situations that are not changing is a bigger version of what they have already been trying - a bigger hammer.  

Other knowers are not as constrained by their past experience. They are more likely to focus on what is different between the new situation they are facing and ones they have faced before.  They realize the limitations of simplistic approaches in a rapidly changing world.  They take the time to examine new strategies and are more likely to take many factors into consideration when approaching key decisions. These people can also be good, stable leaders who encourage innovation in those around them.  When taken to the extreme, however, this type of knower often becomes paralyzed by ignoring sound strategies that are already 'at hand'.  They tend to believe that what is needed is more time and resources to search for the perfect solution.  

The dangerous thing about being a knower is not challenging what you 'know'.

The end result of being a knower is that eventually you will likely end up becoming paralyzed in the pursuit of your dream. The approach that has worked for you so far in life will probably not work when it comes to your dream - if it was you would have walked into your dream already.  

Moving towards your dream will require to to honestly evaluate yourself and how your current approach has left you paralyzed.  This realization and acknowledgement is uncomfortable and some people avoid it at all costs.  It means that you have to take responsibility and stop blaming your circumstances, your lack of resources or other people.  Taking responsibility and stopping blaming is a key characteristic of a learner.  When you become a learner, you will hold more loosely to what you 'know' and be more open to the new strategies and approaches that are necessary to put the pieces of your dream together.