How to Cross the Gap From Knowing to Doing
Do you have parts of your life that you want to change? Do you know exactly what you need to do to change them? Do you go to bed every night knowing you did nada to make that change happen?
I’ve been there. I’ve watched others get there. I even developed a model to explain what happens and why. And the best part is, this model can help you go from a good idea to a lasting life change.
From Data to Knowledge to Action
Most of the mental “stuff” of the world starts out as raw data. These are things like our personal observations, scientific research, financial reports, political speeches and lots of other collections of “bits.” Most of it is meaningless noise that our brains naturally filter out. For example, if you live in an urban area, you probably see thousands of advertisements every day . Yet, at the end of the day you may remember one or two.
For data to become knowledge (What I Know) it has to go through some processing and contextualization. The good news is that there are many sources that do this for us automatically. The nightly news, doctors, the Federal Reserve and even this blog are all examples. The bad news is that you have to decide if you trust what those sources have to say. Even so, let’s assume that most data aggregation and reporting sources are 75% reliable. That means that the majority of your data to knowledge transformation work is already done for you.
For knowledge to become action (What I Do) well, YOU actually have to DO something. This could mean performing an action once, or it could mean establishing a life long habit. No one can do this for you.
Inertia is the Enemy
So why is it so hard to act on our knowledge? I like to place the blame firmly on the shoulders of inertia. For those who never took physics, Merriam-Webster defines inertia as:
- a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force
- indisposition to motion, exertion, or change
Sound familiar?
What this means (see, I’m processing data for you and helping you transform it into knowledge) is that our very being is resistant to change. In order to get it moving, we need to apply external force. Here are a few ways to do that.
How to Overcome Inertia
- Create Obstacles. Make it more difficult to engage in the old behavior. People with gambling problems can voluntarily add themselves to a list that effectively bans them from going into a casino. You can do the same by placing controls between you and your old behavior. In the quitting smoking example, don’t just get rid of all of your cigarettes, throw away your lighters and matches.
- Create Social Pressure. Call, email or talk to EVERYONE you know and tell them the change you’re making. Tell all the cashiers at the convenience store that you’re quitting smoking and ask them not to sell cigarettes to you. If possible, get featured in the local paper so that you’re REALLY screwed if you have a relapse!
- Burn Your Bridges. There’s something very final about a fire. When you really want to say goodbye to a part of your past, find a physical representation of it and set it on fire. Burn an empty cigarette carton or some glossy ads. Throw in your vintage NASCAR Winston Cup hat if you must.
- Take Baby Steps. Maybe you’re not ready for a slash & burn approach. That’s okay. Rapid change isn’t the only way to go. Start your change with just 1 small action. Just 1. Then tomorrow do 1 more. And then the day after do 1 more. Rinse & repeat a few times and in a few months you’ll be a New & Improved person.
- “Put Out.” Get your mind out of the gutter. The Navy Seals use the phrase “put out” to mean giving everything you’ve got to an activity. Just like a freight train takes a lot of energy to get rolling, but is equally difficult to stop, someone who truly puts out will soon gain momentum and will soon achieve their goal.
- Make Sure It’s What YOU Really Want. If you don’t REALLY want to change some aspect of your life, you might be able to grit it out and get over the first gap, but more and more gaps will appear. There may be a lot of great reasons to quit smoking, but if you don’t actually desire in the bottom of your soul to quit, it will be an exercise in frustration and failure. You’d be better off to apply your energy to something else.
Now It’s Up to You
I’ve just done everything I can do to help you cross the gap from knowledge to action. If you are truly committed to changing some part of your life, pick a strategy and start to use it. Don’t let inertia keep you from creating the life you desire.
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A couple of comments.
1. Creating obstacles is, in one sense, a positive use of inertia.
2. Inertia is usually because I’m split between wanting two things. How can I know what I really want? I think it is usually possible to find something that means I can have both things I want – otherwise I wouldn’t want them, if you see what I mean.
Inertia is not the problem – but you skimmed right over what is, which is the commitment. Like many others, I didn’t get this until I wanted to make a change in my life – one akin to eating an elephant! – and I thought I was committed and doing the right things. Sadly, this is where many of us are lacking, and once we reach that point where we are committed, fully and “truly” as you said Maria, then nothing will hold us back. I go into this on one of my posts – my blog being about trying to help people get past the reasons and excuses and to make things happen for themselves, and seeing that their commitment is NOT there is probably the most important thing I can do for them. Life is so frustrating if we’re trying to make changes we are not committed to….
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I have just taught my students about inertia last night (in my physics class) and I think it would be great to share how inertia sometimes can become their enemy too.
The methods that frequently use are burning my bridges and creates social pressures.
I’m an extremist. So I don’t take baby steps.
ChuaRaymond’s last blog post..How Your Brain Actually Works
@Evan – Your 2nd point is very valuable. Clarity is essential for getting past inertia. If you’re not clear on what you want, you will be pulled in multiple directions, which leads to standing still.
@Diane – Commitment is extremely important, I agree. Once a person has decided that they REALLY want something, it’s pretty hard to stop them from getting it.
@Raymond – This would be a great life lesson for your students. When I was taking physics in high school I called cleaning my bedroom “battling entropy.” Yes, I am a nerd
Excellent post.
I tend to think we know more than we allow ourselves to realize at a conscious level. That the data that is coming into our systems comes in on many frequencies, so to speak.
I appreciate the bit about inertia and the step to overcome – change involves movement.
Sometimes just going for a walk is all it takes to get the spirit re-engaged.
Roger’s last blog post..Where imagination and reality work in synchronicity
Hey Maria, Don’t talk to me about fires, (see my post above), but I must agree that commitment seems to be one of the areas where people really hold back. If we are only 99% committed to our dreams and goals and visions, then we’ve always got room for excuses….. I’d like to offer the option of being committed – without a time frame. Have a vision for your life, and allow it to unfold in Divine Timing.
Hey Maria!
Great list here! I’m going to stumble this as soon as I finish typing this.
I think the best on the list would be to burn the bridges just like how Napolean burnt all the ships and won the war =)
Feeling disgusted with what you’re doing now and then taking some drastic action will definitely do the trick, don’t you think?
To CANI,
SaiF
The World’s First Teen
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Great info – keep up the great work.
I think that is a unique and perfect way to all the successful business. Knowing what to do and how to do are key points to achieve your goals.
There is an excellent book on this topic The Knowing-Doing Gap How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton.