Information is not power, sharing is not power...

Information used to be power, though in reality it was never power. After all if no one knows that you know....then how can you use that power!

I was brought up to believe it was the sharing of information that gave you power. I have always loved sharing, that is why I love running seminar's and speaking at events...

But the more I think about it....an evolution has happened. Information is now at the end of a computer keyboard. Sharing is now at the end of a Google search.

It is not the sharing that is hugely important...the sharing should be the free element of your brand. It is the context in which the information fits that is the premium element.

That is why I have no problem giving away my knowledge. If I don't then you could always Google and find it out. What people will pay for is the relevance of that information to their specific context.

I realize it is now the personalization of information, the filtering, the sharing of individualized information which is powerful

Comments

[johnwlewis.wordpress.com]

Well said!

Like you, it seems, I have enjoyed many years of training people; it is very satisfying to be able to assist people in making progress in the direction that they wish to travel by sharing the knowledge that they need.

The context, that you have identified, takes time to establish by understanding their situation and background, so that the shared knowledge fits the need.
One way that I like to look at this is that something has to happen between the information and the sharing: we need to "care".

As I see it, there are three levels at which any relationship operates: "aware", "care" and "share". "Aware" is the starting level, at which, we "know" something relevant about each other and about what each other needs. "Care" is the mid level at which we "like" something about each other and are interested in the outcome. "Share" is top level at which we take some responsibility, we "trust" each other sufficiently to deliver something. The relationship can move (up and down) between these levels over time, but it is very difficult to reach the "share" level without first establishing the "care" level.

There is an old saying; "They don't care that you know, until they know that you care."

I wonder whether you think that this fits with your experience.

John W Lewis

[Holly]

A beautiful point that can't be overstressed in today's digital world!

Hugs,
Holly