All facts are not created equal. In this particular diagram, it shows the various levels of facts and how they go through processing to bring us to Wisdom Living.

Raw data, facts might include “in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” That’s a fact.  The country of Italy is shaped like a boot. That’s raw data. It becomes information as I organize it. You can see the rise in the step on the poster. Raw data becomes useful information as I organize it. As I linked it with other pieces of information in my mind, it becomes information. It becomes accessible to me.

Very often, raw data has to be linked with something that’s already in my long term memory. Hence, I can remember that Italy is in the shape of a boot. What shape is Syria? I have no idea, but I know that Italy is in the shape of a boot because I’ve linked it to something (the shape of a boot) that’s already in my mind. As I apply it to my life, it becomes knowledge.

As I identify it as truth that has been true over generations and proven by generations of people, it becomes wisdom. Building your life on principles that have proven themselves true over time is a solid foundation for a leader.

For me, the Bible, that ancient text, has become a source of wisdom. Within the Bible is the Book of Proverbs containing pithy sayings written thousands of years ago that have proven themselves to be true over time.

A leader seeks to live his or her life based not on raw data, not on information, not on knowledge only, but predominantly on wisdom. Wisdom living. People follow people who are wise.

Categories: Learning

Tags: learning