On Mastery



I went to a stylist party this weekend. There were free makeovers; hair, make-up, and massages.  I gratefully participated, receiving a massage and a new hairstyle (partially braided into a faux-hawk).  I wanted to try something funky!

The woman who braided my hair is a very talented young lady.  She does hair, makes jewelry, and has an online boutique.  In general fashion is her thing and her dream is to one day have a boutique in a cute artsy area of LA.

I was initially impressed with the woman's creativity, drive, and passion...then I noticed how she parted my hair.  She mentioned not being able to find a comb to create the parts so was using a clip.  What?!  Using a clip to make parts for hair.  (For those of you not familiar with braiding hair, it's like using a butter knife to cut steak...)  AND you are in a salon and can't find a comb?!  Really!

Three things come to mind...using the right tools, putting in effort, and honoring your work.  The latter being primary to me.  Now I will say I received many compliments, and from 'a distance' it looked great.  I thought...Mastery...Often times Mastery is in the details.  There is the expression, the concept, the inspiration, and the execution.  Paying close attention to the details, that matter, is what takes your work to another level.

The key ingredient is the expectation of Mastery.  The expectation that you are a master at whatever you do.  That you bring the highest level of integrity and knowledge you can in that moment.  Bringing that every day in each moment is what creates a true master.   Mastery becomes a habit and a way in which you express yourself.

Here are a couple of patterns of behaviors I have noticed of the greats whether they identify themselves as artists, scientists, or business people:
1) Study.  Taking the time to study your area.  Knowing what needs to be done, what tools you need, what details matter, and what the subtle differences are make all the difference in the world.
2) Effort.  Taking the time to apply that knowledge.  To care enough about your work to go the extra mile in mastering the nuances that maybe only the trained eye will notice.  Authenticity, Excellence.
3) Honoring your work.  This probably should be first because doing this naturally leads to the others.  Truly honoring first yourself, and thus the work you create is invaluable.  Then you are constantly seek how you express more of yourself through your gift.  How can you impact people in a more authentic, master-filled way?
Yesterday, I was at a dinner party and a friend of mine commented on her artistic journey.  She said that before she had the proper training her creativity was a slave to her technique.  Then, once she studied and mastered her technique, her technique then became a slave to her creativity. 
Allow your creativity to soar, flinging open the doors of expression, and leaping from the floor or preparation (technique, study, practice).

Photo Credit iSEEthings http://tinyurl.com/39juy69

Honoring Me...I don't have all the answers: A Lesson in Vulnerability

In the past I've been that "Do It Yourself" Girl.  Able to knock anything out not needing help, I had it under control.  As I write this now, it makes me shriek.  I actually took pride in this.  Staying up all night, banging my head against the wall for the right answer...when all I had to do was Ask.

It is tough life when you Always have an Answer, not necessarily the answer but an Answer.  I am realizing how it fills the space...if an answer already exists sometimes friends, colleagues, teammates don't search and reach into their own creativity for one.  Then we all lose.  

There is a concept many of you may be familiar with, the MasterMind....it is defined as the MetaMind, so to speak, that is created when two or more people come together tin creative collaboration.  It is more powerful, brilliant, and genius than either of each alone. 

What does this mean for someone who formerly defined herself by how smart she was?  

Allowing others to have the answers, better ideas, what does that mean about me?  I now see it means Nothing...nothing at all.  Except maybe I am becoming more comfortable with who I AM, letting go of the need to prove myself, and control.  Actually, it means life is a lot easier.  It sounds so obvious yet so was so easy to forget in an overachieving frenzy....Loving myself means loving others...and being Vulnerable to them.

My heart just opened....Not having all of the answers means I get to connect with others at a Higher Level, I get to Honor the Gifts and Talents they've come to this world with, I get to Learn from them and See them in their Highest Light.  I get to Get Out of the Way!

VULNERABILITY

Photo Credits: Temari09 Flamingo Rose http://bit.ly/bJUklD

A Lesson in a Blue Box.

Last week, ironically enough, as I rushed to my (former) client site late to the meeting (that led to the end of the contract and the beginning of this Blog) I rear ended a car.  Turned out to be the nicest man I could've rear ended, a Blessing maybe.  Today we went on a lunch date and he brought, yes Ladies, a little Blue Bag.  How sweet Perfume from Tiffany.

I didn't notice until I got home the title of the perfume, "Pure Tiffany".  How perfect, I thought.  Tiffany has done a great job branding itself we all know the Blue Box with the White Ribbon.  It is very distinct and unmistakably theirs.  Then a fragrance "Pure Tiffany".   The name says it all.

I am making it my signature smell during this Journey.  A simple reminder, every time the wind blows, to be Purely Me.  Distinctly, unmistakably, and undilutedly ME.  Simple Reminders.

Back to the Future...I'm an Artist, wait Know I'm a Scientist....IS IT The Same?

I’m an artist…always have been even when I didn’t know it. 

I grew up thinking I was one of the "smart kids", I did well at school, knew my multiplication tables…started reading when I was three…playing instruments wasn’t for me, being left-handed in art class was a disability.  Sports? Those were for the athletic kids.  I was a smart kid…

In school, I took the Math and Science path though all I really wanted to do was be over in Fine Arts…I thought they were the coolest people in the world, those that had talent, talent enough to pursue their love full-time.  In undergrad I had to fight my Academic Advisors to let my acting classes count towards my General Elective requirements…They would have rather more math, more science.

For a long time I felt like my degree(s), what I spent years on, were a liability….

This morning I woke up from dream, with a vision.  My thesis, my graduate school project just might fit into this new Thing, yet to be defined, that I do, that I AM.  As crazy as it sounds, I can see it being the backdrop of an amazing Experience.  It all seems clear in the vision…now to bring it into Reality...the words; Allow and Surrender whisper in my ear...

Part of this newfound Peace (I woke up with two days ago), of relaxing into what is unknown is the Surrender.   Not quite intuitive for the academically trained problem solving corporate consultant…It’s my Job to have the answers (or it was).  


Now my only Job is to surrender to the Unknown, the Field of Possibilities. Where Magic Happens.  At least I believe it does….DO you?

Photo Credit: Tamari 09 Tamaristock Fantasia http://tinyurl.com/258lsu7

How It All Began

At the beginning of this week I had a lucrative corporate contract, that wasn't supposed to end through the end of the year.  By Friday I was sending good-bye emails. I followed my heart and told the truth?!   AM I Crazy?!  I thought as the air escaped from my lungs, my chest began to collapse and my mind raced with all of the things I SHOULD HAVE done...Like wait until...wait one more month, one more contract...to follow my Heart.

I am leaving the only world I truly know, the only way I've ever known how to support myself financially, the only thing I've ever truly been confident I was good at...and for WhAT?!  To follow my dream, may PASSION!...Which for some reason I can't recall right now...do I dance, sing, act?!

I feel like I am having an identity crisis, because that life, that job, those contracts, is (no was) who I AM. 

I woke up this morning with my chest a little less tight and the airways a little more open...thinking. It's Time for You to Learn to Love YOU!...


SO Here it is the Journey of me learning to Love Me and follow My Passion...Maybe you can relate...

Photo Credit: Autumn Sunset by Tim in Ohio http://tinyurl.com/2anuboy