My last post may leave the impression that one can become a Master at something by simply learning the rules and following them. One might assume the the rules are the important part of the process. This would be a mistake. As part 2 I am writing an addendum to expand Step 6 of the Path. It is as follows:
6) Teach yourself when and how it is appropriate to bend or break the rules. This is called improvisation
a) Try something that isn't covered by the rules
b) Fail
c) Go back to 6-a and repeat until something works
d) When something works keep it and go back to 6-a again
Following the rules is based on being consistent and minimizing the chance of failure. Improvisation, however, is based on failing a lot and learning from those failures as much as possible.
If the path in question is not a place where one can fail repeatedly, then there is no room for mastery and one should move on to something else.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Path To Mastery
This story has been written many times throughout the ages, but it is always the same. The Path to Mastery is simple, but arduous. It is joyful, but painful. It is fraught with hazard, but the rewards are impossible to quantify. It is as follows:
1) Find the Master
2) Follow them until they agree to teach you the rules
3) Learn from them all that you can
4) Practice the rules diligently until they become boring
5) Practice them more until you forget the rules and they become a natural way to act
6) Teach yourself when and how it is appropriate to bend or break the rules. This is called improvisation
7) Restructure your experience into a new set of rules
8) Teach these new rules to another pupil, so they may continue on their path
This path is always cluttered with dead-ends, false prophets, and mistakes. Nonetheless, it is the only way to master anything. The greatest risk is that, as ignorant pupils-to-be, we lack the ability to separate the pretenders to mastery and the masters of nothing from the real thing. The ability to accept that risk and walk the path anyway is what we call "faith." The difference between those who happen to choose real masters and those who do not we call "luck."
And finally, there are some whose only master is themselves. These people have a high degree of both "faith" and "luck." The process, however, is still the same.
1) Find the Master
2) Follow them until they agree to teach you the rules
3) Learn from them all that you can
4) Practice the rules diligently until they become boring
5) Practice them more until you forget the rules and they become a natural way to act
6) Teach yourself when and how it is appropriate to bend or break the rules. This is called improvisation
7) Restructure your experience into a new set of rules
8) Teach these new rules to another pupil, so they may continue on their path
This path is always cluttered with dead-ends, false prophets, and mistakes. Nonetheless, it is the only way to master anything. The greatest risk is that, as ignorant pupils-to-be, we lack the ability to separate the pretenders to mastery and the masters of nothing from the real thing. The ability to accept that risk and walk the path anyway is what we call "faith." The difference between those who happen to choose real masters and those who do not we call "luck."
And finally, there are some whose only master is themselves. These people have a high degree of both "faith" and "luck." The process, however, is still the same.
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