Mastery

A quick fix, bottom line mentality doesn’t work in the long run and is destructive to the individual and society, says George Leonard in his book Mastery. Instead, the best-selling author says that real success is found in a long-term, essentially goal-less process of mastery.

It’s an idea that’s time has come, but, as the author explains, it’s also an idea that has always been with us. According to Leonard, mastery isn’t reserved just for the super talented or for early starters. It’s available to anyone willing to get on track and stay there regardless of age, sex or experience.

Leonard categorizes people into groups such as dabblers, obsessives, hackers and masters.

    * The dabbler tries his hand at a task, improves, but becomes discouraged at the need for constant refinement and practice.
    * The obsessive doubles and triples his efforts to bring about short-term gains, but eventually tires.
    * The hacker improves some through practice, but settles happily into a level of success far below his potential.
    * The master, however, learns to love practice for its own sake. He knows that only after adequate refinement will another increase in his abilities occur. For the master, celebration and fulfillment comes for the process of improvement, rather than from the accomplishment itself.

Mastery warns that we are often tempted to veer from our respective paths, whatever they may be. Frequently, we make choices in life carelessly, even unconsciously, seduced by the siren song of our consumerist, results-driven society. We often choose a course of action that brings us only an illusion of accomplishment. Yet at the same time, we’re bombarded with media that celebrates an endless series of climaxes. No plateaus, just one fantastic end result after another. Perhaps this celebration of results over process is a prime reason for today’s all too common shoddy workmanship and, maybe, for the ascendancy of imports.

There are some astute points made in this book. You’ll find Mastery hits home. At 176 pages, it’s a quick read and doesn’t require deep reflection.