Here are 3 quotes, the most interesting thing I learned this week, 1 essay, and 1 question to reflect on.
3 Quotes
All that should concern you in the early stages of your career is acquiring practical knowledge in the most efficient manner possible…The reason you require a mentor is simple: Life is short; you have only so much time and so much energy to expend.” – Robert Greene, Mastery
“Thus, the initiative is quick and vigorous as you approach your opponent. Again, unfetter your mind and, from beginning to end, be intent on one thing: smashing your opponent.” – Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings
“Look for the truth; it wants to be found.” – Blaise Pascal
The Most Interesting Thing I Learned this Week
The average life expectancy in the US is 76.3 years old according to the interwebs. Based on my age, I’m just over 53% into my life. My goal is to help stretch the average and live to a healthy 100.
Marcus Aurelius died at 58.
Miymoto Musashi died at 61.
Leonardo da Vinci died at 67 back in 1519.
Age is just a number.
As I grow older, I feel like I am in a race against the clock to do more. To accomplish more. To help more. To learn more. I feel impatient.
Impatient Practice
“Constantly remind yourself of how little you truly know, and of how mysterious the world remains.” – Robert Greene, Mastery
Leonardo da Vinci was stubborn and impatient. He was constantly meddling. Tinkering. Practicing. Learning. Failing. Starting. Stopping. He adopted a motto, ostinato rigore, which translated to “stubborn rigor,” or even “tenacious application.”
He was much more than a painter and sculptor. He was constantly learning. Testing the boundaries of his knowledge. He was an astute observer of nature.
He was even consulted as a technical adviser in architecture, fortifications, and military matters. His work included that of a hydraulic and mechanical engineer.
Being impatient can become a strength. If we resist the easy way out, we can treat our lives like an athlete pushing through the pain of training. You can overcome the pain of defeat by regrouping and restarting. It requires perspective. It requires the ability to step back. It requires the decisiveness to attack. It requires you to act.
Musashi called this the Five Fundamentals. He knew the value of real world experience. Training your body and your mind is a daily task not something you do when you are “motivated” or “feel” good. Reading will only get you so far. You must put what you learn into practice. You must get in the game.
“All of these Five Fundamentals are difficult to understand just by what is written here. For the Five Fundamentals, you train in the Way of the Sword with your hands.” -Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings
Do not confuse impatience for the expectation of quick results. Building anything of value takes time – a stronger mind, a healthy body, a balanced career, a loving family.
The Samurai of the 17th Century knew growing talent takes time. It takes effort. It takes persistence.
“A well-known adage states: ‘Great talent takes time to mature’ (daiki-bansei). An undertaking of consequence takes 20 or 30 years to achieve.” – Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure
Imagine how your work and your life would improve if you learned from others, if you took more decisive actions, if you thought in decades instead of days.
1 Question to Reflect on
What are you doing to develop your impatient practice? How are you developing your own talent?
The Real Con 94