Do What You Know

2 CommentsThursday • May 26, 2011 • by Imei

Having attended a number of blogging conferences, workshops and seminars on podcasting and branding, and rubbed shoulders with those who have “made it” (i.e. have achieved some level of measurable success), I have stood in the back of the room listening to the wistful questions and unabashed announcements of tomorrows hopeful bloggers and startups. They ask about how to launch their good ideas, and they stay behind with others to glean tips and tricks, sometimes hoping to find shortcuts. I noticed a few years ago how success presentations had this motto that sounds like this:

“Do what you love, and the rest will follow.”

But I want to add another observation to that. Don’t just do what you love. Do what you know. Do something that you not only enjoy, but that you’re good at.

From an earlier day (and what sometimes feels like another lifetime!), I used to hang around a lot of religious people. Some of them taught me about this phrase called “transferrable concepts”, and though the terms were being used in the context of evangelical thought, it certainly isn’t limited to religious philosophy and practice. A transferrable concept is any skill, thought process, method, or practice which has applications across multiple platforms or environments. When a person is switching career tracks in mid-life, s/he would do well to take inventory of any skills that can be applied in multiple settings, because starting over in a new career at 45 is different from starting a new career at 21. However, skills such as speaking in public, preparing presentations, organization skills, and natural charisma and entertainment can transfer to a variety of settings, especially in the world of work and entrepreneurship.

The street performer in the Youtube video has made it clear that he is a performer, has not started a family, and has a roof over his head. He made this video to represent the hundreds of people and families who are homeless and invisible to many who pass them by on the streets. My point in sharing the video is to show you that there are many ways to use your skills if you understand what it is that you do, and you choose to do what you know.

Many years ago, I made the decision to step away from the clinical setting even though I have a cherished education in Nursing and a registered nurse license. Without knowing the other pieces that would come into play, I went on a search to find the best way for me to apply my skills in the workforce. If someone had told me I’d be a psychotherapist pushing a platform that merges the arts, healthcare, and charitable organizations together while using my love and knowledge of writing and business together, I’d probably look at them like he was an alien with three heads. Seriously, that idea wasn’t even conceivable for me.

Finding my voice and place in the world of blogging has been about doing what I know, and then building on that to expand my knowledge wide enough to press into doing what I love. I see so much passion in people for all kinds of ideas, but they don’t always stop to think about what it is they know, to start there, and then to add on what they don’t know so they can grow their ideas into reality.

Now, I realize that for every example of people sharing stories of doing what they know, the backlash will come forward from those who started with doing what they love first, and then adding on what they know. Maybe we’re both wrong, and it’s a simultaneous thought and action process that leads us down the path of connection with others, and the launching of brilliant ideas that effect people’s lives. I can’t say from my POV, because obviously, I haven’t gotten there yet.

I’m not a celebrity. I’m not well known.

People don’t stalk me for my picture or signature.

As far as I know, I’m not the subject of nasty gossip or vicious rumors (thank G-d).

At the same time, it incredible validation from so many personal interactions with the public who encounter my story and say to me, “Wow, of course that makes a lot of sense for you to do what you do because you have so much knowledge and personal experience.”

Do what you know. And of course, I hope it’s also something that you love.

What do you think? Does doing what you know or doing what you love come first? What’s your story? Is it usually enough to do what you love without much knowledge of the topic? For example, if you like talking to people about car racing, but you’ve never gotten in the cockpit of a race car, can you expect an audience or a brand based on your passion for race car driving?