Here's a funny thing - most people are smart enough to know that in order for all the knowledge they have to be useful, they need to apply it. Almost everyone knows that, yet not everyone does something about it. Every time we learn something new, we need to apply it, one way or another, in order to both understand that thing better and to get something out of what we learned.
If you spend a few weeks trying to learn video editing and how to make a nice video that would do well on a platform like YouTube, all that knowledge is completely useless if you don't actually start making a video.
Why did you even invest your time into learning that particular skill if you're not ready to use what you learned to actually do something and maybe get some exposure and, if you're lucky, some rewards?
All the information we have can be used to help us make progress, but we're either too lazy to do it, or too uncertain about our reasons.
Laziness is a common problem and it's also one of the easiest to solve. Often, you can get rid of it by finding a good reason to work. In other scenarios, getting something out of your work that gives you enough satisfaction, like money or fame, may motivate you to do more and more in order to get rewarded often.
Once you have a good goal you want to accomplish, and once you actually do accomplish it, that feeling may make you feel so good about what you did and about yourself that you'll want to do even more. Finding a way to actually get something out of your work will also boost your motivation significantly.
Those two things are important when it comes to applying your knowledge. But that's not all. You know what else is important? Knowing how to apply what you know.
Acquiring a lot of knowledge is important, and everyone knows that. The smarter you are, the better you're gonna live. You'll have opportunities and you'll have the chance to do a bunch of things that will get you money.
Another thing a lot of people know is, as I mentioned above, that having a lot of knowledge isn't the most important part - applying it is what matters.
However, here's something a lot of people overlook, something really important that makes the difference between making progress and remaining where you are for a long time - having the required knowledge to know how to apply what you know.
Here's what I mean by that - let's say you spent a while studying everything about the blockchain technology. You know what it is, how it works and you think you may be able to use all that knowledge to promote that technology and even gain some money out of your work.
But that's not enough - you also need to know HOW to actually apply your knowledge. In this case, you can write for websites like Steemit and Medium and tell others what the advantages of the blockchain technology are. If you don't like that option, then maybe creating videos on YouTube may be your thing. If not, maybe illustration is what you want.
Another example could be drawing. You may have a natural inclination for that and you may be able to draw amazing things without a lot of effort. Now, that's awesome, and if you also know that you need to constantly draw to make progress, that's even better.
However, you also need to know how to properly apply what you know in order to get rewarded for your skill. In your case, uploading your work on websites like DeviantArt, Behance or even places like Steemit may help you get some money and/or exposure for everything you do. It may also put you in contact with people who would have opportunities for you.
Knowing how to apply the knowledge you have is as important as having that knowledge. You can be willing to do something with the information or skills you have, and that's not gonna matter if you don't know what to do and how to invest your time using what you know to make progress.
So, what should you focus on once you have enough knowledge to do something with it?
Learn what motivates you and try to fight laziness with that, find a good reason to work for and set goals that will make you want to do more, and learn what the best ways to apply your knowledge are and what will get you the best results.
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