James Cathcart
• Twenty-five years in private and public education
• Renowned humorist and story-teller
• Has worked extensively with government, financial and computer/software organizations
James received his education in Sociology and Organizational Behavior from Brigham Young University. Early in his studies, he was introduced to the works of Stephen Covey and became determined to work for the Franklin Covey Company. He has lived in South Africa, and traveled the world extensively. He has been a Stand-up Comedian, High-School Teacher and Manager of Security for the Utah Transit Authority before joining Franklin Covey in April 1994. Since then, he has worked with corporate, financial, government, military and not-for-profit organizations in an effort to not only help them grow their businesses and achieve their objectives, but enhance the quality of life of their employees as well. James’s education, down-to-earth teaching style and delightful sense of humor has made him one of Franklin Covey’s most sought- after facilitators and speakers.
James lives in Washington state with his wife Laura and their two children.
Topics Include…
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
An engaging and practical approach to principle-centered living at the personal and professional levels.
Leadership: Great People, Great Teams, Great Results
A cutting-edge curriculum, that brings to any team or organization the best material from many of the world’s foremost thinkers in 21st-century leadership.
Personal Productivity
Learn how to lead your life in such a way as to increase effectiveness and achieve greater life-balance.
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FranklinCovey Consultant Blogs | James Cathcart
To Know and Not to Do is Not to Know
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The title of this entry probably sounds like something the great Jedi Master Yoda might say, but it’s actually a quote from Stephen R. Covey. A couple of times over the last week, I’ve heard people say that they tried the FranklinCovey methodologies for time management in the past, but they didn’t work for them. When I asked why, they said something like, “well, I would write stuff down, but then forget to look at it, so…what’s the point?” I explained to one of them, in a lighthearted way, that this breakdown wasn’t so much a problem with the system, but with the user!
So often, we take great pains to accumulate vast amounts of practical knowledge, but never really apply it. We take pride in the fact that we “read the book” or “attended the seminar”, and that’s the end of it. The question I posed to one individual, when he told me that he had “gone through The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People some years ago” was, “yes, but did the 7 Habits go through you?”
I sometimes wonder if we need to stop frantically searching for fulfillment in the latest fads and trends in the marketplace, and start rolling up our sleeves and getting down to the hard work of applying some of the simple truths we’ve already learned. I firmly believe that people should always have a thirst for learning, but also recognize that to learn and not to apply, is wasted effort.
10 Comments to To Know and Not to Do is Not to Know
[...] To Know and Not to Do is Not to Know | James Cathcart | Franklin Covey Consultants Blog | June 28, 2009 [...]
ANGELAAugust 2, 2009
Profound words!!! “Change or Die” great title great book hard to apply. We just have to continue practicing everything we learned. Thanks Dr. Covey
September 1, 2009
[...] Covey, author of the management classic, Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, believes that “To know and not to do is not to know.” It sounds right — but it must be wrong. You know what to do. Develop your people (but [...]
hysNovember 1, 2009
Actually, “to know and not to do is not to know” appears in a number of 19th C sermons by English preachers, so is not Yoda’s, Stephen’s, or some Chinese sage’s after all.
JasonMarch 15, 2011
“To know and yet not to do is in fact not to know” is a quote by Guru Neem Karili Boba,, circa 1600. Covey was not the originator of it, but like most things associated with FranklinCovey, it’s a rip off
James CathcartMarch 23, 2011
Ouch! May I ask what we ever did to generate such hostility? Perhaps I can help to make amends.
JasonMarch 23, 2011
Other than hawking overpriced junk to weak minded people that build their lives around it and then watch it crash when they realize that it’s a bunch of stuff ripped off from people that spent a LIFETIME trying to learn just to spend a few years teaching to other people,nothing. Credit those that deserve it, and stop trying to pass others stuff off as your own. That’s a relal douche move
James CathcartMarch 23, 2011
Wow Jason, I’m really sorry that you find our content so scandalous. Rather than clutter this blog with a personal exchange, why don’t you respond to my email address at James.Cathcart@FranklinCovey.com, and I’ll see if I can address your offenses to your satisfaction. Before you respond however, I would ask you to do two things.
First, read my earlier blog entry titled “Uncommon Courtesy”. I promise to treat you with the utmost respect and courtesy, but I must insist that you do the same. Otherwise, this exchange will be brief, and I would regret that. A spirited, yet respectful debate is very hard to come by these days. I would enjoy it I think.
Second, assume that I am a man of the highest integrity, rather than a villain. We have never met, therefore I can’t imagine why you would assume the worst about me. Assume that my attributing the referenced quote to Stephen, rather than Neem Karoli Baba, was due to my hearing Stephen say it (perhaps even in the context of a “It has been said” moment), and me being ignorant of relatively obscure Hindu gurus (a common frailty among western-educated academics).
Assume that no one was trying to rip anyone off, or rob another of intellectual property. I take great pains to give credit where credit is due, it’s simply that very few people can be assured that the people they quote are the very first people to ever utter a particular thought. In fact, no one is even certain that Baba was the very first to ever speak those words. Rest assured however, that if I find that he, in fact, did speak the quote in question, he will get full credit for it.
That said, you clearly feel that FranklinCovey is a reprehensible organization whose purpose is to deceive it’s customers, and profit thereby. This is of concern to me, as I have not found that to be the case (and I have been affiliated with them for 17 years).
I await your thoughtful response.
I am currently reading “The 8th Habit”; it is a wonderful book. I have a binder of my attempts to help others find their voice. Indeed, to know and not to do is not to know. Whether Stephen Covey said it first or not does not matter to me. Because of Stephen, I am inspired to do! Read his book and you’ll know what I am talking about.
BrianJanuary 28, 2012
I can’t help but notice the people who call the covey group abunch of rip offs. I ask are you self taught in everything you think and do? Are you a hypocrit or just some who has thought about his motives enough. Stephen covey mentions the fact that he did not invent a system, he merely noticed a pattern emerging and pointed it out.
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July 24, 2009