What is Mastery?

1. Comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment.
2. The action or process of mastering a subject or accomplishment

Mastery, why don’t we spend more time learning about it? I have always been convinces that it is not how many tools you have in your bag but how many tools you use well. The old saying is that if all you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail is not always a bad thing. If you are a wizard with a hammer, it may be amazing how creative you may be in fixing problems outside of a nail because of your ability to adapt and modify. In the long run you may have arrived at a solution while others are still contemplating HOW!

Michael Gerber states in the E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World Class Company that “knowing how to do the work of a business has nothing to do with building a business that works”; that entrepreneurs learn their skills through practice, practice, practice; and that anyone willing to adopt that same kind of discipline can be successful too.

Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers: The Story of Success discusses the need to have 10,000 hours of practice before they become a master of their art, profession, etc. That amounts to  3 hours a day for 10 years.

When companies are looking at implementing Continuous Improvement efforts such as Lean or Six Sigma or even a Marketing System are they really considering the commitment that they are making. In today’s world most improvement efforts have to show short term results, less than a year to be continued.  Management is usually blamed for lack of commitment for most failures. I believe that the expectations of a quick fix may be the number reason for failure. Let’s face it, is anyone telling a company that it will take 10 years to master Lean or Six Sigma? You can probably accelerate this process by  proper coaching or having you own Sensei, we know they have 10,000 hours and it  is the best way to improve your chances. You also have to have talent and experience on your side. However, it does take a little luck to be successful as described in this light-hearted look at Talent. Now, there are a couple of fowl words in the video, so you have been forewarned.

An old book, Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment ( a list in the Amazon  review section of questions is outstanding) describes 5 keys to long-term success and fulfillment as:

1. Instruction
2. Practice
3. Surrender
4. Intentionality
5. The Edge – Push the envelop

Michael Gerber made a point in his book cited above that left an ever lasting impression on me. Laying in bed one morning my wife asked me what I was thinking about it and I replied: Gerber made this comment if I really did not feel like going to work today, do you think anyone else does ( meaning my employees). That morning I decided to sell that business and pursue what I enjoy, what I really love because if you do not, seldom will you ever have the patience to develop those skills.

As an organization, are you willing to take a path of continuous improvement? Can you develop the mastery of your profession or product without it?

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