INFORMATION

When one first start out helping individuals one tends to think that what they most need is information. Information first of all about the issue (what is available?), and then information about themselves (what do they want to do?). This need for information seems, at first sight, to be the easiest task in the world; after all, it is 'the Information Age'? There are bunches of paper-and-pencil exercises that people can use for self-inventory And the amount of information available about 'what's out there', either in books or 'online' is staggering particularly in it's fields, careers or larger companies that they are researching. In practice, one may use information (and information sources) for years without ever understanding the true essence of information. It is easy to think information is just a bunch of facts.

KNOWLEDGE

Then, one begin to realize the individual we are trying to help need something more than information. They need knowledge. Knowledge is the next level up from information, and is distinguished from 'mere information' by two characteristics: knowledge is information that has been organized, and it is information that has been applied. IF everything about the issue/task in hand can be organized under just three headings: WHAT (do you most want to do?), WHERE (do you want to do it?), and HOW (do you find the person who has the power to hire you and show him or her how his skills can help them with their problems/challenges?) - - then it is noticed: the difference between knowledge and information. Knowledge is information that has been organized, under headings, and into categories.

WISDOM

But as one grows older, one realize that as Guides there is an even greater gift that they need us to teach them, and that is: Wisdom. All successful guidance depends on our learning for ourselves, and then sharing with others, how to put things in context, how to give things their proper weight, no more, no less. For that is the essence of wisdom. And wisdom is what individuals most need