I am currently reading the book titled, Mastery. Written by Robert Greene this year,it reads eerily similar to a book of the same title written 20 years ago by George Leonard. I love to study and learn around the topic of mastery and the mind. Nueroscience has changed immensely over the past 20 years; the road to mastery, not so much.
Hundreds and even thousands of years ago, masters began the exact same way they begin today. Masters begin by becoming an apprentice of sorts. Masters always start the process by becoming a student, FIRST.
In the ancient world through the age of enlightenment and right up to our latest findings from nueroscience, the typical time it takes an apprentice to learn his or her craft to the point of mastery, is roughly ten years time. Ten years studying, learning, and applying. Ten thousand hours of domain specific practice.
Franklin, Leonardo, Darwin, and countless others that history recognizes as masters, understood that the process toward mastery required patience and tons of practice. Practice that they had a passion for. Practice they designed. Practice they led. Practice that they pushed. Practice that aligned with their purpose. Practice that led to performance gains. Practice that was painful and required perseverance. Practice that led to better practice.
Today, consider yourself an apprentice of sorts. Regardless your stature or your position in your system of work and life, evaluate your current state honestly. Write out your strengths and skills. Deficits too. Next, imagine yourself as master of your domain. Envision the strengths and skills required to make the leap. Now for the critical, consistent third step. Commit to some kinda PA (productive action) that moves you from your current state toward your dream state. Tomorrow, wake up and do it again. More PA. More PA. More PA. Practice, practice, practice, practice. The gains will come if you are willing to commit.
Here’s the problem.
Most humans, when they evaluate where they are in their current state, overevaluate their strengths and underevaluate their deficits. The dreaded “blindspots.” And, even more problematic, most humans don’t have a big dream for their work or life. Without the passionate, purpose filled, overarching vision guiding the way, practice looks like some more dreaded drudgery. Even the most disciplined eventually lose heart when, in fact, their heart isn’t in it.
All masters begin the process toward mastery by becoming a student, FIRST. Don’t wait another day to find a passion worth pursuing. Someday your mind is going to wake up and want more. Do NOT make the mistake of waiting for your “wake up call.”
You choose. Your choices have consequences. I’m choosing to go back to my book and get myself ready for some more good practice. What are you choosing? Where are you on the road to mastering your craft?
Tell me more, my friend. Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 