Why you aren't a Rocket Scientist

In cleaning out my office, I came across a unique book that I was required to review while working in a manager position several years ago.  The book was called:  “Now discover your strengths” by Marcus Buckingham. 

Momma always said I could fly to the moon if I just put my mind to it.  This book, teamed with huge amounts of research and data, challenged this notion.  What the book proposed was that as infants, the neurological pathways are set, our learning patterns are established at a very young age, and they transcend into our adulthood.  A person’s talents or strengths are hardwired from when we are born and this cannot be changed. 

This was an interesting concept because most companies focus on a person’s weaknesses and throw countless dollars to get them to overcome that weakness.  Now it may be true you can spend money on giving tools to people to help them better manage their deficiency but it will likely never make them a super performer at a task where they are weak.  The premise of the book is rather to identify a person’s strengths; and position people in a role where they require use of their abilities.  Get the right people on the bus, and get the people in the right seats, was an analogy.  Training should focus on reinforcing and building up a person’s natural abilities rather than aiding a weakness.

At the time I was reading the book, I also participated in a questionnaire that identified my strengths.   It absolutely nailed what I saw as strengths in myself.   It characterised traits and tendencies that were bang on.

The conflict, however, was that many of the concepts of the book seemed a little in conflict with Kung Fu. "But a master, rather than condemning himself for his "ordinariness", will embrace his ordinariness and use it as a foundation for building the extraordinary"  (Mastery by Stewart Emery). Are there limitations surrounding the way you are wired to what you can master?  I believe everyone has limitations, and that we revert to thought processes that have been “hardwired” into us.  When you subtract large numbers, do you subtract from the nearest hundred or count up from the nearest ten?  Do you prefer to learn a form by learning each movement independently and piece it together afterwards, or running through the entire set of movements and work details out later.

However, in watching candidates over the years become black belts and display mastery in the presence of what seems like insurmountable challenges, I have to think the brain is more dynamic than what the book suggests.  It is nothing new that we all possess talents, but I think that is the beauty of Kung Fu.  In the process I believe you learn more about yourself and in that, you find hidden talents and new strengths that no amount of research or questionnaires could draw from you.  Learning to optimize what you already know you have; find something new within; and become more than what the world says you can. To me, that is Kung Fu.

Baby Steps

The Bucket List.  A concept refreshed from a recent movie release in which a person writes down the experiences they wish to complete before kicking the bucket.  I generally didn’t follow this concept, more appreciating living daily and cherishing things with which I was faced with.

Lately, however, I came across a video clip of a sperm whale encounter, in which a scuba diver is nose to nose with a monstrous beautiful creature.  Chalk this one up to number one on Vince’s bucket list.  So why would a person who still needs water wings in the deep end of the pool seek to swim with a monster that eats giant squid kilometres under the ocean.  The answer; because it terrifies me.  For some weird reason, one of the most awe inspiring experiences lies at the heart of my fears.

The idea though, has further inspired me to take baby steps in my I Ho Chuan personal goal to learn to swim.  Words from Sifu last class were really inspiring regarding weapons training.  Sifu mentioned it did not matter where you where at, but rather that you return a little better than you were.  I am going to apply this to my personal goal of learning to swim.  I may start slow, but I will be sure to never taper off. 

This was just another example that in the process of learning to kick and punch, I came across a lesson to be applied in life.  In all likelihood I may never swim with a whale in the open ocean, but I think the journey to that goal will be quite an experience.

Thank you kindly.....1000 times

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.  That was the overwhelming notion that ran through my head.  I am proud to have made the commitment to join the I Ho Chuan class and look forward to the coming year with some eager nervousness.  At first glance, this kind of challenge is like handing a toddler the keys to a Formula 1 car and telling them to win the Grand Prix.  Fortunately, with the support of a wonderful family, friends, Sifu's and fellow students, I say lets roll with this!  

Now to have a look at my first experience.  Over the past couple days in reviewing the requirements for the I Ho Chuan, and beginning with logging pushups, situps and other activities, I ran across a very interesting revelation.  The new awareness that journaling has caused regarding Acts of Kindness, revealed the number of times that people have stepped out of their way to help me.  Reflecting back on the days, I've observed more acts of kindness to me than what I've dished out.  When you make a point of focusing on kindness you see that the world is overflowing with it, and that is really good.  Take for instance the fellow student that offered his never worn, brand new Kung Fu Gi for me to use after I had forgotten to pull mine from the washing machine.  All I can say is thanks.....1000 times.