Albert Einstein once observed:
"Only those who devote themselves to a cause with their whole strength and soul can be true masters. For this reason, mastery demands all of a person."
"Only those who devote themselves to a cause with their whole strength and soul can be true masters. For this reason, mastery demands all of a person."
I am no "Einstein", but Einstein himself knew the secret to success: becoming the best is less about natural talent
and more about what you do with what you've been given. For example:
The first round draft football player usually doesn't become a "hall-of-famer"...the most focused, practiced and passionate one does.
The most talented piano player doesn't become the concert hall pianist or rock-n-roll keyboardist...the most dedicated and devoted one does.
The most brilliant entrepreneur doesn't reap great fortune and change the course of history...the one with the most discipline, work ethic and grit does.
I know, I know...
...this thinking is so opposite of the way society has taught us to consider those at the top of their game. We're told that the Mozarts and Michelangeos, the Oprahs, the Eminems and the Jordans are cut from some divinely-blessed cloth. And born into their amazing great gifts.
But a growing body of research into exceptional performance (much of it led by Anders Ericsson who was first to report the now-famous "10,000 Hour Rule") is confirming that concept of naturally gifted genius is pure myth...
And the reality?
...That those we admire--the awesome athletes and the great business leaders and the remarkable musicians and our heroic military--are just normal people who, early on, made a few uncommon choices and installed a few unusual habits. And in so doing, generated unbelievable, exceptional results.
The most talented piano player doesn't become the concert hall pianist or rock-n-roll keyboardist...the most dedicated and devoted one does.
The most brilliant entrepreneur doesn't reap great fortune and change the course of history...the one with the most discipline, work ethic and grit does.
I know, I know...
...this thinking is so opposite of the way society has taught us to consider those at the top of their game. We're told that the Mozarts and Michelangeos, the Oprahs, the Eminems and the Jordans are cut from some divinely-blessed cloth. And born into their amazing great gifts.
But a growing body of research into exceptional performance (much of it led by Anders Ericsson who was first to report the now-famous "10,000 Hour Rule") is confirming that concept of naturally gifted genius is pure myth...
And the reality?
...That those we admire--the awesome athletes and the great business leaders and the remarkable musicians and our heroic military--are just normal people who, early on, made a few uncommon choices and installed a few unusual habits. And in so doing, generated unbelievable, exceptional results.
But here's the point: Michael Jordan didn't practice the piano instead of shooting free throws. Pharrell is not
spending his best hours becoming a chess master. And JK Rowling definitely wasn't obsessed with joining professional tennis.
All people who rise to genius have something in common: singularity of focus.
The "rich and famous" are focused on their skill. And epic performance is much more about the things you have the discipline to say "no" to rather than the things you say "yes" to...
The point I'm suggesting to you is really this...
...you can try to do many things but you'll always play at mediocrity. Or you can commit to just one thing. And be the best at it. For example, if you are a sales exec, learn everything you can about roofs and the way people make decisions (add value). If you are a manager, study and figure out how to motivate your team and how to provide peace of mind and a sense of security with our customers. If you are part of our office team, commit to figuring out how to be the most efficient team we can be and let those ideas be known.
So simplify. Cut through the noise and clutter. Get great at saying diplomatic "no's". And if we all focus on what our roles and responsibilities are, we will succeed.
All people who rise to genius have something in common: singularity of focus.
The "rich and famous" are focused on their skill. And epic performance is much more about the things you have the discipline to say "no" to rather than the things you say "yes" to...
The point I'm suggesting to you is really this...
...you can try to do many things but you'll always play at mediocrity. Or you can commit to just one thing. And be the best at it. For example, if you are a sales exec, learn everything you can about roofs and the way people make decisions (add value). If you are a manager, study and figure out how to motivate your team and how to provide peace of mind and a sense of security with our customers. If you are part of our office team, commit to figuring out how to be the most efficient team we can be and let those ideas be known.
So simplify. Cut through the noise and clutter. Get great at saying diplomatic "no's". And if we all focus on what our roles and responsibilities are, we will succeed.
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