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A few pockets of Specialized Knowledge
I like this phrase, it represents my journey in life.
Having the ability to do many different things with a high level of expertise is something I strive for and it's possible for anyone and with 10,000 hours of practice. Anyone can be talented and time is the common denominator.
If you start young enough and practice consistently you will become an expert. Talent
The word talent has always been overused and is often substituted for what is really raw ability. Sure some people are predisposed to accomplish their dreams quicker but that is about focus and concentration. I often here the phrase “ I don’t have a creative bone in my body”! In the first place, creativity is not part of our skeletal make up, if it were we’d all be mutants , some more mutated than others.
In the second place, if creativity was based on some rationalized way of thinking none of us would be artists, musicians or entertainers.
The bottom line is, people equate talent and creativity with profound values that only a few people have and that’s just not true.
We all have it!
That’s right! we’re all creative talented people, while some of us choose to develop those skills others think they magically appear.
Youth and learning
When it comes to youth and development it is known that kids learn more efficiently and faster than adults. As we get older we are less likely to be open to new ideas and our world of discovery has narrowed.
Children on the other-hand haven’t learned to limit their enthusiasm for life and adventure. No preconceived ideas, no rules, no judgments are what child are about. We just need to take a look at our children to be reminded of our own potential.
Getting Older
As we get older we drift into the “land of no inspiration”, that place where learning new things seems to be out of reach.
We don’t dedicate time to something that will give us joy because we have commitments to family, children and work,
( other peoples stuff). What about our stuff?
When I was 12
My Dad and Mom set me up to like banjo music long before I had one. One Christmas I received a5-string banjo and even though I was excited, I questioned my motivation to learn to play it. Later that year a man that played tenor banjo ( 4 string) gave me a few lessons and then left me out in the cold to do it on my own.
That was 1968 and Bluegrass banjo teachers didn’t exist in-fact the only 5-string banjo players I knew were Earl Scruggs ( he invented the 3 finger picking technique) and Roy Clark.
Over the years I learned some cords but never really learned the Scruggs picking technique. It wasn’t until 2008, I was online and I saw an offer for free 5-string banjo lessons, so I singed up.
Well! as it turns out, a month later I had made a commitment to myself to learn how to play the 5-string banjo properly and maybe one day even play for people.
I have since developed the skill and am on the road to discovery.
Learning something new
As I practice regularly I see progress and I feel good about my self. The hardest thing about this process is getting down to practice everyday especially when I’m learning a new song. It can be difficult to slow your self down and not take shortcuts because you know what you are supposed to sound like. The key is to learn the fundamentals properly because a good solid foundation is the essence of any skill.
Developing my Talent
When learning your new talent the process is often methodical, slow and quite painful psychologically. It’s funny! but as you go over and over the same process you may not realize your improvement. One day you’ll come in and start practicing your music or start a new drawing and discover a new ease and speed which you are moving, everything has come together. There are small successes along the way, that if you pay attention to will get you excited for the next step in your journey.
Removing those preconceptions of talent
When the word “talent” comes up people have a tendency to ooooh and aaaah over some-ones exceptional ability.
What I see is a person who has worked hard to build an activity into a skill that they’re passionate about. I’m not suggesting for a minute that prodigies don’t exist but they are the exception. What I am saying is that a normal every day person can achieve a high level of expertise by just focusing and being consistent.
You’re lucky to do something you’re passionate about!
Passion doesn’t just happen it’s manifested through consistent practice and hard work. There have been allot of growing pains and sleepless nights, frustration, laziness, depression, anger and profound joy in my career. ( and some drinking)
There were times I had no idea why the hell I was an artist or how I got here in the first place. That thing called “time” brought perspective and purpose into my life just when I needed it.
I no longer sweat the “artist label” thing, I simply go on creating art as a profound need for expression. My passion for art is now a forgone conclusion that I don’t even question as part of the equation.
How much effort
As much as you want, can, or are able to give! The facts of the matter are, the more time and effort you put into an endeavor the quicker you’ll arrive at your destination, hence “10,000 Hrs to be an expert”.
Art is 24/7
It’s true ! I’m always thinking or visualizing images and painting projects. I walk down the street and see a bottle picker, picking bottles from an old stained garbage-can and I come up with concepts for paintings. I don’t act on everything but my ideas get written down for use later. I’m constantly looking for things that are odd and pay attention to things that most people wouldn’t. I’m in the business of seeing the world my way then documenting it on canvas.
Does environment have anything to do with Talent!
Huge! If you want to paint landscapes and flowers you’ll do better producing great art if your studio is near gardens and rolling landscapes. Chances are , art that’s created in a cave will be dark and lifeless.
Have you noticed, shows like American Idol promote the idea that talented people have strong support systems behind them. Artists are the same, we thrive on support. Whether it's friends or family, support is the driving force behind our inspiration and talent.
The Renaissance Man
A renaissance man is someone who can do more than one thing well.
Leonardo da Vinci is the model for the Renaissance Man.
da Vinci was an artist, writer, scientist, researcher and inventor and he did them all well. His drive was curiosity and his reward was discovery. To develope such expertise in so many disciplines it went beyond intelligence, it took tenacity and flexibility.
Designing and working through processes for his inventions were about education and developing an understanding of the world around him. da Vinci’s skills are apparent and yet he wasn’t focused on being the best he was just curious.
Good or bad, you’re right!
so Relax
We’re our own worst enemies when it comes to developing new skills. We beat our selves up all the time questioning our ability to draw, paint, sing, play music, sports etc...
Don’t you think reinforcement is better than criticism? Isn’t it better to try, than not? I think people are too preoccupied with looking stupid rather than focusing on the advantages of becoming good at something.
American Idol
I watched American Idol for the first time this last season.
What became compelling to me as I got further into the season was the growth of these performers and how some excelled and how some gave up when the going got tough. An interesting process once I was able to maneuver around the spectacle of the show. The people that did well were open to the concept of spilling their guts on that stage and not holding anything back.
perfectionism
I had a friend Karen that was an amazing musician and singer and was embarking on a music career. One day on a road trip she brought a couple tapes of her music to listen to. I was blown away by her energy and raw talent/ability, “she was a natural”.
Several months later I heard she got an opportunity to go into the studio and make a CD. The next time I saw her I asked her “how’d the recording session go” she replied “ it was tough but I think the CD is ok”. I recieved a copy, went home and gave it a listen. It was good but it wasn’t like the earlier pieces I had heard. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why until one day I saw her perform. Her energy and enthusiasm on stage was much superior to that of CD she had just produced. She later told me the producer at the recording session had her do take, after take, after take, until each song was perfectly polished. That was the problem, her raw talent and energy was berried by a quest for perfection. Karen later got married and moved away, but I can't help wondering if she would have been a success if she had just stayed true to herself and kept on producing her own work in her own way.
Genetics
Most people don’t know that before Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was in politics or acting he had won the Mr. Olympia contest in Body Building 7 times. It was said that Arnold have the perfect genetic makeup for body proportion and that was a huge advantage.
I don’t know how true that is, I just know that he trained hard and smart to win those contests. He knew his short-comings and how to capitalized on his strengths, which carried through to his acting and political career.
Arnold was once asked how he was able to accomplish everything, he said “I have always been hungry for it”
Bringing all the elements together (develop your talent)
Here are a few things that will bring you closer to discovering and creating your talent.
· place your self in a supportive environment (love and support will help to get you where you want to go)
· thinking you are good doesn’t work unless you work hard, practice and are consistent
· time is the common denominator of success and talent, so put the time in and you'll be rewarded.
· learning to relax and enjoy the process will help you excel at anything you do
· the best and most talented people spend most of their time developing there skills
( ask your self. "how much do I want this"?)
My final Words
5 hours of practice a week for 4 years ( Above average ability)
2-3 hours a week for 4 years ( Good ability)
Less than 2 hours a week for 4 years ( Average ability)
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