Knowledge is power is an understatement.

What stops you from becoming wealthy, smarter, healthier, happier and wiser? It’s fundamentally actionable knowledge.

Those who know and act change their lives. Those who know but refuse to act are no different from ignorant ones.

Knowledge is the first step to greatness.

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do,” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said.

What’s stopping you from achieving your biggest goal in life? Knowledge. You are not wealthy, more intelligent, or happier because of what you don’t know.

David Deutsch, the author of The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World, explains in a TED Talk, “In a comprehensible universe, if something isn’t forbidden by the laws of physics, then what could possibly prevent us from doing it, other than knowing how? In other words, it’s a matter of knowledge, not resources.”

80 percent of success is what you know — knowledge is potential wealth.

Everything I know about writing and making a living online I’ve learned from mentors, books, insightful essays and smart people.

I’ve made six figures from writing online in the last three years alone.

Knowhow is not evenly distributed — that’s why the wealth gap is so wide. On a practical level, you are paid based on what you know.

People who pursue a career in knowledge work are paid based on their specific knowledge or expertise.

The same is true in almost every field.

Knowledge gets you through the door; experience takes you up the wealth ladder.

Some income sources require extensive knowledge, while others require a great deal of skill. Knowledge is a type of skill, but it’s not the same as skill.

In a perfect world, we would all have the ideal skill sets and be able to do whatever we want. But that takes a time commitment.

If you are ready to make time to learn the right set of skills, you can achieve almost anything you want. Everyone is a natural-born learner. The best way to learn something new is to experience it as often as possible.

Knowledge gives you the opportunity to change your circumstances. Experience gives you leverage.

Knowledge is the most powerful asset

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” ― Benjamin Franklin

To be wealthy, you must become wise. To be wealthy, you must be educated. You must invest in knowledge and cultivate wisdom.

Knowledge is potential wealth. It’s also the foundation for a better life. Knowledge can be exchanged for wealth.

You cannot profit from what you don’t know.

Knowledge is the key to success, and the most successful people in the world are the ones who have the most knowledge about business, finance, investment and other things.

People with knowledge are rich, and they know it.

They invest in their own education and spend time learning something new every day.

They read books, listen to podcasts, and watch educational videos. They take classes, attend conferences, and read insightful articles.

In other words, they are people who have a great deal of knowledge and act on what they know.

I like what Monique Rockliffe once said, “Pursue knowledge as though it is your life-blood, then you will know greatness!”

Learned knowledge can change your life. Your present beliefs, thinking models, assumptions and understanding about life and living it are either helping you build your best life or sabotaging your success.

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in,” Isaac Asimov once said.

Knowledge can help you in all walks of life, from personal to professional life. We all need to know something to keep ourselves grounded and grow as a person.

So, what do you know? Is your present knowledge serving you? Is it helping you build wealth, become wiser or happy?

If you are not happy with your life, change what you know, upgrade your mind, and improve your knowledge.

This article originally appeared on Medium.