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The Road to Mastery

What I’ve learned:
This week as I read about perseverance and how the journey of entrepreneurship is not for the weak or lazy, I discovered that I’m probably drawn to this path because deep down inside, I really am a strong, make-it-happen kind of gal. Though I may appear timid and indecisive, when I find something I want, I stop at nothing to get there. I’m a finisher and a doer, but I do require lots of help because I’m not as knowledgeable or experienced as others.  I’ve learned this week from Jeff Sandefer that I have a mission and it’s not to make a million dollars or to start a business. It’s to serve God’s children through my gifts and talents. I plan to take his challenge to ask five people what they think I do better than anyone in the world. I need to find out about myself in this way. Hearing it from others will be surprising and humbling, I’m sure. 
I also want to mention a few key things I learned while reading the book, Mastery by George Leonard. The “mastery curve” is how we best learn and grow. It involves a rise when a new skill is mastered, then a slight decline, followed by a plateau, then another little rise. For our world nowadays, we want to learn everything right now. We want the newest, latest, most powerful, best looking, whatever available. Leonard teaches that in this societal paradigm, we have not been taught to enjoy the plateau. He says we need to find joy in our routines, the things we do most regularly that will eventually build a skill to mastery. I love the idea of slowing down and feeling peace knowing I’m doing my best to work on something.

What I have yet to learn:
 I also want to take Sandefer’s advice and interview nine or ten successful people to find out about their triumphs, regrets, and lessons they wished they learned earlier. I think that would be fascinating information to possess, and maybe put my life into a different perspective. I’m excited to apply these concepts of figuring myself out and enjoying the journey to practice. It’s almost all practice. Mastery doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, perseverance, persistence, passion, and peace in the plateau.

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