Jeff Wang Blog

What makes a person more qualified or capable of doing something than the next person?

Usually it’s because of a knowledge gap.

The role of a professor is to close that knowledge gap. The role of a student is to apply that knowledge and further their own skill. The role of a university is to connect knowledgeable people with passionate students.

If I told you how simple the method of some of the magic tricks I performed, you’d be much less impressed by the magic.

Why?

Because I’ve closed that knowledge gap.

A huge part of why magic seems magical, or impossible, is because us magicians are fully aware of this knowledge gap.

Knowledge is power. 

In academia.

In life.

In magic.

In the spirit of closing knowledge gaps, I sometimes do reveal the simplest tricks to spectators to explain why knowledge is so powerful. How in one instance, a trick seems impossible. And in showing the spectator again and giving them the knowledge of the trick, which I can explain in two sentences, the magic isn’t as magical, but instead, it becomes something both the spectator and I can enjoy. In reality, knowledge IS magic. Knowledge connects us and created a bridge from performer to spectator.

Knowledge and education is one of the most important things in my life right now. How can I close these knowledge gaps I have with the people I admire most? Books. Lectures. Application. 

Let’s close these knowledge gaps and start sharing the magic.