It is true that everybody is born with a unique set of skills and natural abilities, such as: creative thinking, design, musical abilities, organizing, dancing, etc. Nonetheless, this does not mean that these natural abilities and skills do not need any development, and it absolutely does not mean that one automatically gets to the level of ‘professional’ just because he has these skills and natural abilities. However, we all have a special set of natural abilities and skills and therefore the potential in ourselves to develop them to a next level!
We have used the term ‘artist’ as a contemporary translation of ‘grand-master’. In the rich history of ‘trades’ (that goes back over 5000 years) exists a process of development in which everyone who was participating in the specific ‘trade’ had the opportunity to develop and better himself. Which looked like this:
The student
The companion
The travel-companion
The master
The grand-master
In this definition of ‘artist’ e.g. a dentist can grow in his profession to become a ‘dentist-artist’, a baker can become an ‘artist-baker’, a violist an ‘artist-violist’. The university of Cambridge has conducted a research regarding the ‘road from a student to a master’ concerning a great range of professions (from fire-fighters to surgeons). The research evidently indicated that nobody is born as a master (no even people like Paul McCartny, Mozart). Even the most gifted and talented people take about 10.000 hours of challenging practice in order to develop their skills to the point that they become a master in their profession.
To grow to become a professional (companion) is for the most of us the first big step. Which implies a very realistic development, a development that will also prove to be very motivational, also because you will be developing your unique skills and natural abilities.
Last month I was invited to observe an open heart surgery from up close. A fantastic experience. I witnessed a ‘master-surgeon’ that was passionately putting his skills and natural abilities to work, just as much inspirational as Herbert van Karajan directing the 5. of Beethoven.
So, no matter where you are in your very own development-process, whenever you combine your skills with passion, with many, many hours of practice, challenges, the right mentor(s), than you will be enjoying your profession, your trade, to the fullest. And your clients will enjoy that with you.
And excellent book that also covers these thoughts is ‘The element’ by Ken Robinson.
Enjoy
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