Thinkers vs. Doers

Our society places a great deal of weight on a piece of paper that is traditionally framed and hung on one's office wall. This piece of paper represents years of study at a university or college. It does not, however, represent experience or practical training.

In this blog, I wanted to clearly define the difference between modern-day thinkers and doers. Our colleges and universities are full of thinkers. Men and women that spend years and years to earn a degree that qualifies them to teach others. But if they were really all that intelligent, wouldn't they be out making millions by applying what they teach? After all, they are the best at what they teach, right?

I once heard someone say "Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach." Interesting, isn't it?

We are taught to respect and admire those who spend years and years at ivy league schools, while we look down upon the simpletons who complete an apprenticeship or attend a trade school and buckle down to work.

Some of the most accomplished men and women throughout history have had very little formal education at all. One of the greatest inventors of all time, Thomas Edison, did not go to college at all! As far as we know, his highest grade level completed was the 5th grade! (which would probably be the equivalent of 8th or 9th grade today)

How is this possible? Well, when it comes right down to brass tacks, we have two main types of people in today's world: Thinkers and Doers.

Thinkers can only think, but they do not do.

Doers can not only do, but they can also think.

The Thinker needs the Doer in order to do.

The Doer does not need the thinker in order to think.

Whatever happened to "teaching a man to fish" versus "giving him a fish"? All too often in recent years, institutions of "higher learning" turn out graduates with ridiculous degrees that sound important, but do not allow the graduate the means to earn a decent living. An example being art and history majors. An art degree does not guarantee that you are a good artist. The consumer determines how talented you are by how much they are willing to pay for your art. Too many untalented artists stick up their noses at society and say that people don't know or appreciate good art... when the bottom line is: good art sells, and crappy art doesn't. What is a history major qualified for? Pretty much just teaching history, for which there is a very limited demand, but many history major's get upset once they graduate and cannot find a job.

The Founding Fathers were Doers in the best example of the word. They often worked in their trade by day and wrote or taught philosophy by night. The were the very essence of a Doer, in that they were both able to Do and to Think.

So am I saying that we should not go to college at all? No. I have a two year degree myself. But the job that I currently have is a direct result of the 8,000 hour apprenticeship that I completed, not my degree.

So ask yourself this before you consider a degree to pursue: will this degree qualify me to THINK, or to DO?

In summary, Doers do not need Thinkers, but Thinkers do need Doers.

I pity the man who does not know the satisfaction of accomplishment or the deep feeling of contentment after a hard day's work.