The Future of God: The Merging of Science and Religion

Courage and Depth

We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers — Carl Sagan

Practice Makes Perfect

Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-Hour Rule Visualized: Practice Makes Perfect

One of the most interesting parts of Malcolm Gladwell’s fantastic book Outliers is his discussion of the “10,000-hour rule,” which posits that it takes about 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to truly master a skill, be it playing the violin, computer programming, or skateboarding.

Gladwell covers several tantalizing examples, from the Beatles to Bill Gates, and argues that the biggest factor in their success is not innate talent or blind luck, but rather dedication to their chosen craft. It’s an empowering message, and one that suggests that almost anyone can succeed if they put in the time (could those saccharine posters be right?).

Of course, privilege and luck can greatly ease the way, but there’s little substitute for 10,000 hours of work.

This infographic, created for the blog Zintro by Nowsourcing, takes a closer look at practice and the 10,000-hour rule.

Of course, as Kurt Cobain said, “Practice makes perfect, but nobody’s perfect, so why practice?”

Click here to view the infographic.

The Challenge of Humility while climbing the Ladders of Success

Too often have I seen money, power, greed and fame corrupt the character of otherwise strong men and women. Driven by ambition, we start to climb the ladder of success long before our first job. While we grow up, we will have undergone tests, trials and undertaken the endeavors of our skills. These usually take place in an educational setting and serve to hone an inborn inclination to succeed, to surpass others. Subtle intellectual and emotional exercises serve to stiffen character and prepare the individual to weather the various setbacks and disappointments that are inevitable in the struggle for success. Today I'd like to discuss about how we can hone the values of humility while seeking to climb the ladders of success.

We are often reminded that the door to the kingdom of God is exactly as high as we are when we walk on our knees. If we are standing tall, full of pride, we can't get through. However in the office, the opposite behaviour is promoted. We can't get ahead, unless we promote ourselves, we must take the centre stage, claim all the credit for success, even if this means climbing the backs of your colleagues. The quiet achievers remain anonymous, while the loud and the proud leap forth with promotions, attention and success.

It's not just the office culture that has the problem with humility. Many of us still equate it with self-hatred and self-disgust. "I'm not very good at so and so", "I'm not pretty", "I'm no way as good as him/her" is the usual humility seeking behaviour that I often see amongst people, and especially Christians. But as a slogan that I encountered put it, "The challenge is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less often". This is the art of self-forgetfulness. 

Humility comes naturally to some people but usually it needs to be learned. We become humble by being around humble people and by consciously acknowledging that we are not better than others. Humility means not putting yourself either above or below others; it means not thinking about your position on a scale. Humility is not about thinking life and success as a ladder, but rather as a path, a journey in which you, him, her and I are walking forwards together. A ladder suggests the egoistic concept of ourselves and our individual desires. A path suggest a way laid down for us and for others as well. That very difference is humbling and liberating. 

We must forget about thinking life as a ladder, but rather as a road, a journey in which you, him, her and I are walking forwards together. We must forget that success is not a ladder, but a road that each of us is on. We must not think about life as a ladder, but as a road, a journey to walk forth together. It is acknowledging that we are all on this walk of life together. This includes the evil, the corrupted, the broken, the ugly, the poor, the hungry, everyone including the average person we often come across briefly in our lives. Once we have this viewpoint, we will see everyone as equals and remove the thought of the ladder and judgement. Some may choose to run ahead, let them for it is their choice. Many do so leaving behind their friends and family. Others may stumble and fall. The truth is that we must approach life with the virtue of love — we must help those who stumble and fall and also those who may get lost running ahead. Guided by love and light, you will see others join your company and with your walk in life. 

A musician was asked how he could play so beautifully. His reply was "I have splendid music, a splendid instrument, a splendid bow. All I have to do is bring them together and get out of the way." Every teacher or speaker knows what this means — and how difficult it can be to do. We have to put aside our need for attention so that the bright light of what we are presenting is what people see.

We must not make a fuss over fame or failure. Those who are attached to the roar of the crowd or the agony of their defeats are imprisoned in their own dramas. When honors come, accept them gratefully without fanfare. When you are ignored, let the feeling of unimportance pass calmy. Think of both reward and rejection as similar to a wind that comes and then passes. 

Many of the great spiritual masters practiced what could be called "downward mobility." Jesus, for example, encouraged his disciples to create a community of equals. After they argued over who was the greatest, he knelt before them and washed their feet. "I am among you," he said another time, "as one who serves." Strive to create the conditions in the world that will lead to a this kind of community. In daily life, this means working to break down the barriers that separate people and put the rich over the poor, the able-bodied over the disabled, the literate over the illiterate, the strong over the weak. (Matthew 5:3-11)

In summary, in order to remain humble and to be successful in the workplace, we must not see life, career and success as a ladder, but as a pathway, a journey in which we are all walking forth together. While we must place importance about self-forgetfulness, we must present the light in our passions, our talents and our virtues. We must not act to be the light that shines, but to present that light through love, and the moment we present the light, we truly become the light that shines. The freedom that comes in doing so, makes our present lives on earth feel like heaven. Once we begin to see that each of us have one thing in common — the gift of life —  our hearts begin to be touched by love and softened. We begin to see beyond the corruptness, greed, evil and see that life is truly beautiful. Nethertheless, we must accept that we are here to service and honour our gift of life while walking alongside with others. We begin to not think of ourselves, but by equally loving all others who are also in this walk of life. A universal connectedness in this journey of life. 

Success is therefore not a ladder, but a path and journey to be shared.