From the Founders: One Way Jordan Turns Knowledge Into Action

Reading books can be an enriching experience, in the knowledge we absorb and apply in everyday life. However, as much as I would like to think I can implement all the lessons learned from each book, I am constrained by memory and capacity. So, I start small and start easy. To make sure that the lessons are not forgotten, I create simple and recurring habits that can be folded into daily routines.

For instance, after reading Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food," the quote "eat food, not too much, mostly plants" resonated with me. Although I grew up believing that a proper meal should always include meat, I decided to incorporate "meatless Mondays" into my routine, for both personal and global health reasons. At first, it was breakfast and lunch without animal protein. Soon, going an entire day without meat didn’t seem inconceivable or inconvenient. To be fair, sometimes I fall short of this goal; however, the failure and sting of disappointment it elicits reminds me not to miss twice, that tomorrow or next week I won’t fail.

By creating small, achievable habits that can be sustained over time, I hope to ensure that the knowledge gained from books is not lost but put into action, to give that knowledge the respect and life it deserves. For what is knowledge without action? 

- Jordan, YCS Cofounder