THE 4 FACTORS OF LEARNING –

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, SKILLS, AND

HABITS (KASH)
Each individual has a set of unique characteristics and habits of learning that have taken them to
where they are in their life. People often refer to KASH which is an abbreviation of knowledge,
attitude, skills, and habits. These factors go hand-and-hand with how well we succeed in our
personal and professional lives. However, we tend to confuse and use these phrases
interchangeably.

Why should you care about these factors of learning? These factors of learning have a direct
influence on your success and performance, so it’s important that we develop an understanding
of the differences between these 4 factors of learning and how we can better cultivate them.

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge are the things you know. Knowledge is different from skills in that it consists of the
facts, information, or theoretical understanding of subjects. By acquiring knowledge your level of
intelligence, wisdom and overall ability to understand social, economic and other various
concepts improves. Building knowledge is a lifetime pursuit. Knowledge consists of everything
you’ve managed to absorb from school, work, friends, and your environment.

Applications
 Maintain a running document of what you have learned in your career and in life.

 Try brainstorming about things you want to learn.

 You can try posting about your discoveries on social media, record them in a journal, or a run a
catalog of what you know and how it might improve your life.
 ATTITUDE

This definition is the most nuanced and broad in

its application. An important factor to consider when thinking about your attitude is that it isn’t
necessarily about having a “good” or “bad” attitude, but how your awareness of your own outlook
and state-of-mind on a given task influences your performance.
Attitude is one of the most important factors of learning because while knowledge and skills go a
long way, attitude is what keeps you going. Attitude can also determine your level of enthusiasm,
which is another key factor in staying motivated to expand your knowledge, attitude, skills, and
habits.

Related Article: Techniques To Help You With Positive Thinking So You Can STD (Seize The
Day)

Applications
 Stay aware of your thoughts and your mental attitude.

 Cultivate a positive mental attitude, by practicing activities that boost your self-esteem and
promote your well-being.You can try meditation, exercise, healthy eating, or you can donate your
time to a good cause.

 Create relaxing spaces for you to work in and surround yourself with positive influences.
 SKILLS
Skills are your ability to perform tasks. An individual acquires their skillsets through training,
experience or natural abilities. Skills are different from knowledge because knowledge is a
prerequisite to skills.
Skills and knowledge work together to create the overall excellence in your performance.
You must have the knowledge to perform skilled work, and you can’t perform skilled work without
knowledge.

After you become proficient with the skills you have chosen to develop, you are now becoming
your own master of success. You have become the teacher and not the student. Whether it’s the
interpersonal skills you need to communicate with teammates, the skills needed to close a sale,
or the time management skills required to complete your objectives and goals for a project, your
skill sets help you execute actions to further your success.

Applications
 Similar to knowledge, ask yourself what skills you have, what you might want to learn, and what
skills you would like to improve.

 The difference between talent and skills is hard work. Dedicate yourself to practicing your skills
and improving them because hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard.

 Don’t be shy. Look for a mentor or instructor that is willing to help you. They will access your
skills, provide valuable feedback and ultimately improve your skills.
 Habits
Habits consist of the tiny individual choices and behaviors we act out and repeatedly do with
little to no effort. Great habits drive great performance. When combined with a positive mental
attitude, the skills we practice eventually develop into habits. Positive habits are an important
factor to develop because the personal payoff to your career and success are determined by
your daily habits.
Related Article: 16 Things You Can Do To Stay Motivated

Applications
 Set realistic practical goals that will help you build momentum towards accomplishing your short
and long-term goals.

 Think of these life goals as small daily, weekly and monthly steps. Don’t get overwhelmed by the
end goal or objective. Focus on taking care of what needs to be done next. Chop your projects
and workloads into smaller more manageable chunks. Discover what needs to be done next
every day to help bring your goal a reality.

 Celebrate your achievements. Accomplishing goals should not go unrewarded.

 If you are having trouble changing or developing your habits. Start small, brush your teeth three
times a day for 3-minutes. This sense of accomplishment, even though it is small, will help you
retrain your brain to develop other habits in the future.
 Generating More KASH

Knowledge and skills are mostly associated with learning. These two factors of learning are
typically developed through teaching or experience. Whereas attitude and habits are factors
associated with execution. These two are cultivated through good coaching.
Often times an individual’s success is dependent upon asking him or herself if acquiring new
knowledge and skills is more vital to their success. You either lack knowledge and skills or you
have poor habits and attitudes. Learning how to learn is an invaluable skill that will take you to
new places and allow you to experience a more fulfilling life.