How often do we sit and admire, or in some cases sit in envy of, another's success and think, "they must've been born with it". Athletes, artists, entrepreneurs that made the big stage who apparently were simply blessed to be "born with it."

          In author Robert Greene's book "Mastery", he seeks to explore our innate perception of there being some natural link between inborn talent and the mastery of a skill or field. However thankfully, after much research it is his opinion that no such natural link exists. In one example, Greene describes Charles Darwin's younger cousin, Sir Francis Galton. While Darwin was just an ordinary young boy showing no real sign of having any sort of exceptional intellect, Galton had a higher IQ and was considered an extraordinary genius. Yet it is Charles's contribution to science for the theory of evolution and his book On the Origin of Species that can still be recalled by many around the world today.  

          So if we can accept that the Darwin family example provides some evidence to support the idea that mastery does not actually depend on whether you're born "gifted" or "ordinary", than what steps can be taken to become a master in their own right? In Greene's words, follow the same steps as every other great master before us throughout history: they each sought to discover their field, engaged in some type of apprenticeship, developed a creative and open mind, then went on to utilize these experiences to achieve mastery. Pick any of your favorite masters and their respective professions and you will most likely find the same path taken no matter the skill or trade. 

          We should pay very careful attention to the piece on apprenticeship and recall the famous quote from Sir Isaac Newton that says "if I have been able to see further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." There is tremendous research that has gone into the value and importance of developing relationships with personal and professional mentors, and based on Greene's research it is made evidently clear to be one of the most critical components for the ordinary to become masterful.

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The views of this blog, podcast, and on this site in general are solely those of the authors, Matt Weaver (NMLS-175651) and Zack Lewis, and do not express the views or opinions of Finance of America Mortgage.