100 Day Challenges blog

On Mastery

   "Tell me Master, what are masters
  for?" asked a young monk in all his
  juvenile candor.
   
   Father D'Evry smiled and replied,
  "Well, they're for nothing at all. They
  teach you what you already know, and
  show you what you have already seen."
   
   These words filled the disciple with
  confusion. He thought intensely,
  eyebrows furrowed, and then asked, "But
  Master, how does that help me? How can
  I learn from what I already know? Are
  you saying that a Master is useless to
  his disciple, and that I should be my
  own guide?"
   
   "Well, not exactly," Father D'Evry
  replied. "Consider this example: have
  you ever been captivated by a painting?"
   
   "Yes, I have," the young monk said.
  "I remember one painting that used to
  hang over the altar in my church at
  home. It was of a magnificent sunset,
  painted by a famous Italian artist, I
  forget his name now..."
   
   "And what did you find so interesting
  about the painting?" the Father asked.
   
   "I don't know... the details, the
  colours, the overall impression it
  gave. It was like having a model of a
  sunset right there in front of me."
   
   "But haven't you ever seen a sunset
  before?"
   
   "Yes, of course, but they were not as
  real."

(c)2005 www.positive-club.com

On modeling skills for mastery

I can remember, when wrestling, boxing and experiencing martial arts, that repetition was how I learned.

To improve, it meant trying harder and more frequently.

One day, I discovered that I could train offsite with masters. I would then learn techniques unfamiliar to my regular group. Eventually, I would come to dominate where I regularly trained and in the leagues that I competed.

Applying modeling skills of physiology, syntax and beliefs would have drastically reduced the amount of time for mastery.

Lessons learned:

• Always reach outside of the immediate group.
  
• Open to new experiences and techniques (strategies)
  
• Persist onto mastery
  
• There is always someone better.
  

Enjoy,

Rocky Romero

ProfitCoaching.com