Master Todd Harris at Martial Arts University teaches, “The average person has the ability to be the master of one thing.”
Nathan Richie will spend hours discussing Bruce Lee’s unforgettable influence on the world of Martial Arts but he was never a master of the art that created his path.
Tom Hanks is an Oscar Award winning actor—one look at the magazine rack at the grocery store and you’ll be quickly reminded of what he’s become a master of; sharing the stories of World War I and II men and women whose words and experiences would’ve been lost forever if he and Mr. Spielberg hadn’t dedicated their lives and private dollars to the preservation of history.
It’s extremely difficult to name your mastered craft. Thinking you know is an extremely dangerous game to play because reality has a bite that leaves marks.
I’m humble enough to admit what I’m not. And by saying that…I’ve opened the door to failure.
You’ll never become if you don’t believe in it first. If I feel doubt while delivering a one inch front kick through a chunk of wood, my energy won’t move through the once living tree. If I’ve convinced myself that doing 30 pushups is a lot of ups then downs…I’ll be tired by the time I reach 10.
As a child I poured everything into becoming a master at radio—I listened to nobody. It was my dream to have and to hold til death do us part. Had I leaped into this career after a college education the death of me would’ve been my first meeting with a program director whose job is to fine tune the talent and presentation of the radio station. I’ve never mastered radio because my roots sing “rebel” too loudly.
Do I agree with Nathan about Bruce Lee not being a master—yes. Jackie Chan and Taylor Lautner are no different—they move swiftly across the giant blizzard white canvas but a true Black Belt knows the way and the way isn’t about destroying or teaching the unknowing how to ignore using good judgment before killing living things.
A banker is no different—CEO’s and decision makers can spend all day in their beautifully designed offices living off the average persons $3 ATM service charge and never think twice about what its like to scrounge up 20 bucks for something other than macaroni and cheese with hotdogs for dinner. They might be brilliant at numbers and creating ideas that’ll inspire hordes of people to move toward their horizon but in the end modern day banking has no clue who you are. They aren’t masters at taking care of people unless it’s themselves.
Native American’s lived a separate path—it’s only natural to assume Hollywood was right when discussing the incredible power and charisma of a single nations Chief. They were strong warriors, fought many battles and have scars that scream, “I shall forever lead these people.”
Chief’s earned their position of power not by fighting in battles but by giving up their lives. They were the most giving people of the nation. They gave to make better for everyone. They lived for their circles of family and friends. They led people not a self to better places to survive. Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce Nation vowed to protect his people by bravely leading them to Canada. It was their lives he protected and felt tremendous loss in the days that would become their final.
He was a master of compassion.
The Crow Nation of Montana is best known for their battle on the Little Big Horn with General George Custer. A quick glance at their history makes the average person assume the Crow were masters of a good fight. Not true. No other nation can top their skills as incredible horsemen. They mastered the art of using horses as a tool.
What are you a master of? It’s ok to guess. Just don’t demand. In a society blessed with wishful thinking and the deep pockets to pay for it—the end result is a community filled with too many Jack’s of all trades. I’m extremely guilty of that art. Need a wooden bowling ball that hooks right before it hits the pins? Give me a week!
I hearda quote that tends to lean hard on how well I listen to reality. Just when you think I’ve got you completely tuned out and locked onto my own barely lit path…along comes a single moment of innocence that stops the world and spins it in the other direction.
“Let me see if I understand what you are telling me. They want to close our libraries to save money…does this mean they aren’t interested in giving children a quiet safe place for us to read?”
Mia
A 6 year old from Community Charter School whose parents pay for their children to be bused to the nearest public library because the school doesn’t have one.
What are you a master of? In ten years or less your children will have no clue what mastering a craft is. The nearest library will be located in what little memory you have left. We can dream all day about the web always being available until you stop to look into the eyes connected to the soul of reality…nobody controls how much you’re paying every month to be hooked up to all that information. The unemployment rate is now 13% with no real end in sight. If things don't begin to change what’s the first thing most struggling families are forcing themselves to get rid of? Luxuary...and the web is exactly that.
Get your head out of the present and put focus on the future.
That’s what I’m a master of…
Did you ever see the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Where will they start hiding the children?
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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