Information versus Knowledge

Every day I work with people from eighteen to forty years of age. I have had some students in their late fifties taking courses at the Career College I teach at. They all come to school with unique ideas on how their careers are going to take off and how they are going to make a lot of money. The older student has been there and done that so we have to rearrange some of their ideas and try to take some of the edges off their thoughts. The younger students know more than the instructors and know all the answers before they start. With this group, we have to show them that some of their ideas need to be adjusted and toned down and redirected without crushing their dreams. Working with the older students is much easier.
A lot of the eighteen to twenty-five-year-old students will argue that their plan will work regardless of its track history of failure and once they realize they have made a mistake they will quit rather than admit their mistake. At any time of the day or night, they can pick up their phone or laptop and ask it a question and get instant gratification with thousands of answers to their question. Unfortunately, they do not take time to research these answers and cannot be convinced that anyone anywhere can place information on the internet and the clear majority of it is not factual. It is extremely important that employers, educators, parents, and any other responsible person insist and encourage everyone to confirm their sources before believing and spreading misinformation. I saw a quote from someone that said something to the effect of, “we are bombarded with information and sorely lacking in knowledge.”
Jack Ma is a former English Teacher and confounder and chairperson of Alibaba Group which is a 40-billion-dollar e-commerce business. Mr. Ma said, “This is my advice to the young people: 25 years old, make enough mistakes. Don’t worry! You fall, you stand up, you fall…enjoy it! You’re 25 years old, enjoy the show!” I totally agree with Mr. Ma, but I would have added never give up and keep on getting up until you reach your goal. I would also add that it is part of growing up and becoming an adult to be able to admit our mistakes. Mistakes are an extremely important part of learning. When we quit making mistakes we quit learning and when we quit learning we get left behind.