KNOW-HOW and KNOW-WHEN to Breakthrough

   Last month, I had two major learning experiences that substantially contributed to my personal and professional growth. 

   First and foremost is the rare chance of being able to attend a live seminar from one of the greatest success coaches in the world, motivational speaker, and best-selling author Jack Canfield. Aside from his highly rated books such as Success Principles and Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield was also one of the featured speakers on law of attraction who appeared in the worldwide movie hit The Secret, together with Bob Proctor, Bob Doyle, John Assaraf, and many more.

   Secondly, as part of my learning habits to read at least two books every month, I came across one of the Dare to Fail book-series of Asian author and avant-garde thinker Bili S. Lim. The title of the book is From Kia-su (Fear of Risk) Economy to Knowledge-Based Economy. Written and published in year 2000, the book dramatically portrays economic trends and business forces in the 21^st century that continue to shape the future of organizations and entrepreneurs in Asia and the rest of the world. Through his book, Bili Lim offers revolutionary advise and business strategies on how to thrive (not just survive) during crisis, how to explore opportunities in the face of uncertainties and how to radically create phenomenal success in today’s information age.

THE WEST MERGES WITH THE EAST

   An interesting conjunction of ideas can be learned from the two authors. This idea is crucial in making a breakthrough result happen. I consider this as a fitting marriage between Canfield’s success principles from the West and Lim’s hard-knocks wisdom from the East.

   Jack Canfield talked all too well about how to apply time-tested success principles that will lead to breakthrough at work and in life. We will call it the ‘KNOW-HOW’. Bili Lim, on the other hand, wrote about how to make a breakthrough idea work in its most applicable time and capitalize on it in an environment of rapid change. This we will call the ‘KNOW-WHEN’.

   The two authors touched-base on the ground of common understanding how a breakthrough in life, from a mere possibility, can become a practical reality at any given time. Canfield focuses on how to apply success principles that create breakthrough while Lim relates when is the best time to apply them in order to maximise breakthrough results. 

KNOW-HOW PLUS KNOW-WHEN

   Breakthrough success, therefore, is both know-how and know-when. This is what I teach wannabe empreneurs (employee-entrepreneurs) in my breakthrough seminars. The way to capitalize on every business opportunity within and outside the confines of one’s present job is to know how to master the trade, look for clues from experts in the company, model effective leaders, take note of the strategies that work and prepare to apply them for yourself at the most appropriate time.

   I have seen positive results from entrepreneurial endeavours of successful empreneurs who followed the same pattern. For example, the advent of food cart business three years ago which continues up to now has defined new directions for the working class to pursue proven and tested business ventures in the franchise industry.  It has already become a copy-paste business model for small business players who used to be professional employees. 

   The same trend has emerged involving young and aggressive network marketers whose primary consideration in joining network marketing business, aside from the proven and tested marketing system of the company, is impeccable timing in the current demand for health and wellness products.

   How-to and when-to concept complement each other. It is not just a breakthrough principle but a core process that you will learn from this blog. In a couple of days, we will start the ball rolling by giving you specific steps on how to make a breakthrough at work and in life. I will also teach you how to spot observable patterns from the past and how market forces and change unfold so radically fast, through which breakthrough business opportunities are created. With a balanced combination of proper timing and the right strategy, breakthrough happens when opportunity and preparedness meet together.

   This reminds me of the story of an American general who once had trouble with his car while driving along a deserted road in Afghanistan. The vehicle wouldn’t start because of engine failure. After several hours of trying to fix it, the American got a sigh of relief as he asked the help of an Afghan native who happened to pass by.

   Shortly after checking the engine, the man yelled: “There’s nothing wrong with the engine. Let’s just give it a push.” He then sat on the driver’s seat and asked the American to push the car from behind. As the car slowly gained momentum, the Afghan hit the ignition key and, alas! The car’s engine roared.

   “You’re a genius,” said the American. With much delight, he asked the Afghan: “How much should I pay you?” The native answered right away. “One hundred dollars, sir.” “ What? That’s too high a fee for a simple mechanical job. I even helped you push the car,” the American whined.

   “You’re right, sir. It was a simple thing to know how to fix your car’s engine. That’s only one percent. And for that my charge is only $1.00,” the Afghan said.

   Taken aback by the imposing confidence that the native has gained, the American asked: “How about the remaining $99.00. What is that charge for?”

  “Oh, you mean the remaining ninety nine percent? That is for knowing when to hit the ignition key.”

  
   I will leave you with this quote from an Indian poet: "Do TODAY what you plan to do tomorrow. Do NOW what you plan to do today. In a fraction of a second the world can end so when will you do what you have to?"