I watched two movies recently which are a study in dedication to a craft. The first was The Prestige, directed by Christopher Nolan. The character Borden (played by Christian Bale) is totally devoted to the craft of magic, often at the risk of everything and everyone else in his life.
There’s a scene where the Borden and Angier (played by Hugh Jackman) are watching an elderly magician make a giant fishbowl appear. The man can barely walk and no one can figure out how he does it. As they watch him leave the theater, Borden points out the method (words/emphasis added to give context):
See how he appears to struggle walking? He’s fine, the bowl is between his legs the entire time. That’s why he shuffles on stage. The real trick is that he shuffles when he doesn’t need to, the other 99% of life. That’s why no one can figure out his method.
Now, dedication to a craft does not mean ending up like Borden and Angier (if you have watched the film you know what I mean) – but there is a very real element of long-term focus to success.
The second movie is Free Solo, which just won the Oscar for best documentary. The “star” is Alex Honnold, arguably the best climber in the world. The film documents his attempt on El Capitan without any kind of safety equipment. No ropes or harness, just climbing shoes and chalk bag.
What stands out is the mental and physical focus to achieve such a goal. Even beyond the physical ability to climb 3,600 feet of sheer granite, Honnold’s mental strength to stay calm during such a feat is incredible.
The 4 hour climb was just the finish line of a year long dedication to making it a reality. Honnold started climbing in college and made it his entire life in the decade leading up to the El Cap climb.
The reason I shared the tweet from Brian Koppleman (a great director and writer himself) is because it got me thinking about the rush of an @ mention compared to doing great work.
I’m not immune from the rush of @ mentions – though I’m getting better. If you read the last T4T you’ll remember I removed several distracting apps from my phone. Doing so helps tremendously with focus.
The real superpower though is breaking through the fog of distraction and siren song of other people’s opinions to focus on the work that matters to you. The ability to do so over a long stretch of time will yield incredible results.
You may already know what craft to dedicate yourself to, or you may not. If you do, it’s time to get to work (or back to it). If you haven’t chosen a craft yet, I suggest focusing on something you’re already doing and seeing where that leads you.
It doesn’t need to be complicated and you can always adjust or change when a clearly better option presents itself. I would almost guarantee that better options come to those who work though. The likelihood of the opportunity of a lifetime showing up unannounced is… low.
But for the craftsmen and craftswomen, those who are dedicated to their work and mission – opportunities abound.
Photo by Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash