The 4 Mindsets of Genius
#1. Nothing Matters More Than The Work.
Not fame. Not fortune. Not glory. “Balance” just isn’t the game of most people playing at legendary performance. Their lives are all about their craft. It’s their true love, their greatest passion and their central mission. And because of this, they overcome the impatience, self-doubt, fear of stumbling and attraction to distraction that causes most of us to give up prior to genius showing up.
#2. The Process Matters More Than The Masterpiece.
Icons of their fields get that elite performance takes years of deep training. They see themselves as apprentices, learning the skill (often at the feet of a master) step by step, day by day. They commit to their education. They ritualize the discipline. They understand greatness takes time (Darwin had the devotion to study barnacles for 8 years as part of forging his scientific understanding).
#3. The Audacity of Originality Is The Dream.
Great performers go through a series of phases. They start as beginners (every pro was once an amateur). In this period, they watch the masters and copy their moves. With focus, grit and practice they reach the next part: technical brilliance. Audiences are delighted by their proficiency. But what lacks is soul and bravery and audacity. As the performer continues, they reach the final stage. This is where world-class skill meets serious heart. The performer has the guts to express their own voice. Do their own thing. Behave in ways no one has ever seen. This is the goal of every A-Player. To become a phenomenon.
#4. Genius Is an Inner Play.
Here’s what I mean by this observation: genius is less about natural gifts than internal character. The titans of sport + science + art + enterprise are not the smartest nor the most talented (just think of all the super-talented people who do nothing with their potential). No, the best of the best are those with the character traits that allow them to stick to the vision, transcend insecurity, endure the pain of intense practice and ignore the envious ridicule of their critics.
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