Information ≠ intelligence
A while back I heard someone explain that “not all information is intelligence.” And this got me thinking about how we value the information we consume. We are constantly bombarded by all sorts of information – all the news of the world is available on our phones, computers, and smart TVs. Along with everyone’s thoughts and opinions on social media.
But is it all good information? How much of it is actually beneficial? Not all information is actually helpful and necessary to our life mission, or moves us forward in a positive direction. Not all information is intelligence.
Intelligence is information that is vetted and necessary to what we want to accomplish.
What is good information?
How do you filter the good information, intelligence, from the bad? The necessary from the unnecessary?
First, consider your priorities and responsibilities. This is your circle of influence. The people, places, and events that are most important to you and that you have the most control over are the ones that need your focus and attention. Pay attention to the information that is needed to help you serve well in your circle of influence.
Second, consider the source of the information. Just because someone speaks confidently, or shares your political views, or enjoys the same hobbies as you doesn’t mean they are correct, or even actually know what they are talking about. Not everyone who is compensated to speak on television or online is an actual expert. Not everyone who has a podcast is qualified to speak into the subjects they talk about. Sources matter.
Everyone has a bias. Understand who is feeding you the information, what authority they may or may not have on the subject, and their agenda in providing you the information. Do this with as much objectivity as possible, and recognize your own bias in the process.
Third, consider if the information is actionable. Can you do actually something with the information? Does it make you a more qualified person in your field? Does it help you serve others in your circle of influence? Information should be useful and help propel you towards your goals, and make you a more competent person. If you are not able to act on the information, consider deprioritizing it.
Many people feel a strong need to know about everything that is going on – sometimes known as FOMO (fear of missing out). Others might enjoy showing off a wide breadth of knowledge. But just knowing what’s happening, or what might happen, or what others think did happen isn’t all that helpful by itself. Information is only beneficial and worth your time if you can use it to generate an action.
How to gather good information
I encourage people to read widely. Personally, I gather my news and information come from a diverse variety of sources – and all have some sort of bias or agenda. In fact, I often read about the same story from sources that have conflicting agendas. This helps me separate facts from interpretation – the details that remain constant between sources are probably true. The details that vary widely are probably more interpretive or opinion based. This also helps me identify the biases that exist in each source. I am also able to better anticipate the significance of the story based on the knowledge I have built previously around my sources.
It is also important to be fairly exclusive and intentional in what you read about. My sources are widely varied, but the categories of information that I am focused on are quite narrow. I seek out news and information that is going to affect me and those in my circle of influence – either positively or negatively – and that I can act on. A war being waged in Asia or Europe is unlikely to directly affect my health, family, job, or access to the things I need and want on a daily basis. Therefore, very little of my brain space is going to be given over to that topic. On the flip side, a chemical fire at a factory nearby or a severe weather system passing through are much more likely to interrupt my daily routine or affect those I am responsible for and care about. So I am going to use my limited mental capacity to focus on information which impacts my circle of influence.
Now, to be fair, there is a lot of value in studying and understanding some of the complexities behind events that are happening in the wider world. And some of us may need to out of necessity. But this should always be secondary to the information that is actionable for us now and is directly related to our responsibilities. The amount of time we spend scanning headlines and listening to podcasters talk about information that is not actually intelligence for us should be limited. The sources that we use for those limited times should also be highly vetted and reliable.
Spend your time learning about and understanding what is going on in your circles of influence. Seek out reliable and useful information that is going to propel you forward and make you a more competent and helpful person. This is where you’re going to have the biggest impact on your personal security and the safety of those around you.
What Next?
- Read more about how to Analyze Information
