#davesdailychallenge (121): Information vs. Intelligence. We are awash with data in our modern lives. We have the ability to access nearly anything at the touch of a button. The same forces that govern whether or not you can stalk your ex on social media apply equally to sensitive personal data, what the upcoming iPhone looks like, and data about competitors in the workplace. The goal, however, is not to amass information as so many people spend their time doing. People say that information is power and that we live in the “Information Age”. They might be correct on the second point but they’re dead wrong on the first. The goal is to craft intelligence. Information isn’t power. Intelligence is power. Having information with no idea what to do with it benefits you little and can even harm you and your team by propagating paranoia and wasting resources. Intelligence, on the other hand, is much harder to come by. It provides you the ability to make a sound decision in the moment about future expectations of reality and have that decision actually mean something. The next time you read “the next big thing” online or consume some form of modern sensationalist media, do yourself a favor. Ask yourself “Is this just information or is it intelligence that can actually help me?”. Good luck and enjoy.