A 23-year-old rock guitarist was nearing perfection with his craft. He was proud of his accomplishments, but felt stuck. As he faced the end of this journey, he considered his next adventure. He chose to sacrifice his mastery of the rock genre to undertake a quest that would require dedicated daily practice for decades: the study of jazz. He believed he wouldn’t be able to live enough years to master his new goal. This, he said, was reason enough to get up each morning. He has since released three acclaimed jazz guitar CDs and continues to push the limits of music, thanking mistakes as they create opportunities and teach him more about his new adventures.
Responding to the call is a choice. It’s easier not to. Following a path of least resistance protects the safety of the status quo and increases the likelihood that you can be the king of a small hill. You can celebrate accomplishment, stake your claim, and trumpet the achievement of perfection while the rest of the world breaks the mold and transforms.
Invite risk. Stretch limits. Embrace discomfort. Thank mistakes. Dare to fail.
Protest perfection.
Evolve.
