Many wonder why those without higher-level formal education are more financially gifted than those with big and heavy qualifications. I am not referring to those with stolen money, but entrepreneurs whose wealth, at least at face value, seems legitimately accumulated. Yes, life is often topsy-turvy with those expected to make it experiencing more failures than those “written-off” by society. It boils down to actions taken on knowledge possessed. The “fools” are brave and act quickly on the little knowledge they have than the educated, often paralysed by their overthinking and fear of suffering losses and failing to act. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 April 2024.

Well, it is true that “[the] prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Proverbs 22:3 ESV). And it is equally true that “[a] slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4 ESV). The former refers to seeing danger, ignoring it without taking precautions and proceeding nevertheless. It will result in failure that could be fatal. Whereas the latter refers mainly to those betraying their knowledge by doing nothing, hoping for better prospects and conditions to prevail in the future. Such opportunities may never arise and failure to act earlier could be fatal also. What then is the correct approach when faced with such challenges?

It boils down to three keys to success: knowledge, beliefs, and actions. These three are the most important and affect the entire course of one’s life. Knowledge is meant to empower and inspire us to have good desires. The desire is meant to cause us to test or question our beliefs about expected outcomes. Our beliefs should then encourage and inspire us to act against all odds to attain the outcome we deem good for us. Though not acting is also an action, often with undesirable outcomes, many with higher academic qualifications know what the right thing to do is, but fail to act because of the fear of failure and experiencing “loss” far outweighing the benefits of acting. Though failure is a good teacher of many matters of life, the educated ones do not believe it is a lesson worth gaining when they already possess knowledge of the implications of failure. They accentuate the consequences of failure more than the benefits of success. Hence, they never act and rarely achieve extra-ordinary self-sustaining financial success.

Those with less formal higher education also see the implications of success in their lives yet act, because they have considered that there is nothing they would lose if failure arises. They act without delay, adapting their course as difficulties are encountered. They set their eyes on small wins, though they know these small gains accumulate and will lead to even bigger gains. They see the risks, but take necessary precautions without overdoing it to mitigate potential failures. This explains reasons many succeed far more than the learned do. They do not overthink issues and do not let fear stop them. They do not see any other options available to them except the goal they are pursuing. No wonder they usually go far in life than it is expected of them. I want to believe we often make the mistake of equating formal education with wisdom. In truth, there are many educated fools lurking and many uneducated wise people many could learn from.

The so-called uneducated ones are actually wise, because they know that “[poverty] and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honoured” (Proverbs 13:18 ESV). They mitigate the risks and preserve their gains by seeking “instructions” from the fearful learned ones by employing them. Many highly educated ones are usually employed by those deemed less educated. It makes sense that the fearful educated ones are employed by the braver and less formally educated ones because this represents a symbiotic relationship required between different peoples, and it makes a match made in heaven ensuring interdependence and sustainable success. The relationship also ensures that the parties humble themselves and do not look down on one another. It also shows that wisdom is a divine gift, not something anyone can earn by their efforts.

It explains reasons actions speak louder than words and produce more results than what the possession of knowledge does. Knowing and believing without actions leads nowhere, hence faith without actions is dead! Knowledge is good and it is meant to help us achieve greater things, for “to whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). The problem is that many celebrate the achievement of the great knowledge they have just acquired and not its application. The completion of the acquisition of knowledge is not the end, but the beginning of the journey for more to be attained with that knowledge. The less formally educated attaining more financial breakthroughs symbolise greater success because with the little they had, they produced more than it was expected. They used their simple and single talent to multiply their gains. Thus, it is befitting that life rewards them abundantly, congratulating and deeming them “good and faithful [servants]! … faithful with a few things” and as a result, now put “…in charge of many things” life brings.

Overthinking leads to procrastination and procrastination, to intense paralysing fear. Overthinking dulls one’s thinking and causes foolishness. Take, for example the response to Moses that Pharaoh gave when asked about the date he required the debilitating curse of the waters in streams, canals plagued with frogs that also covered all land to go away, he simply said, “tomorrow”! Why not with immediate effect, but the next day? This is what overthinking does! It dulls everything, normalising pain that experiencing it a long while seems bearable than just acting with a sense of urgency to attain goals set.

Do not be Pharaoh, and do not let your knowledge go to waste with your intense fear of acting on it. You have one life! “Nothing ventured, nothing gained!”