The world is full of many smart people…who do nothing with their intelligence other than spout off trivial things that others usually don’t want to hear. There are fewer people in this world who actually do something with what they know.  It doesn’t matter if they are a great mechanic, advertiser, athlete, or manager; magic happens when the action is taken.

I’m not slamming intelligence or education. I’m merely saying that when it is all said and done…much more is said than done. When I advise people who want to grow their speaking business, they often times will fell like they need a particular certification to be qualified to speak on that subject. Obviously, there are important certifications for healthcare professionals, accountants, and the legal profession; but most other fields are dominated by people who have demonstrated great talent for taking what they know and putting it into action.

Have you ever heard of the smash hit exercise program P90X? Tony Horton, the dynamic creator of this home exercise program which has grossed more than $200 million, prepared for his exercise career as a stand up comedian. He doesn’t have all kinds of alphabet soup after his name, he simply was good at helping his personal training clients produce results while having fun doing so.

Do you need a college degree to start a business? Nope. While college may provide you with great knowledge, discipline, and connections that will help you throughout your life; studying theory won’t make you successful. Doing something with what you know is what will produce results. A lack of a degree didn’t stop Henry Ford, Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Rachel Ray, John D. Rockefeller, Steven Spielberg, and Mark Zuckerberg  from becoming successful.

Here’s a challenge: find someone who is achieving a result that you would like to achieve, and try to connect with them. Most of the time successful people are happy to share time with people who are hungry for success and eager to learn.