Can I become a master?
The answer is YES. According to Mastery by Robert Greene, “mastery is not a function of genius or talent. It is a function of time and intense focus applied to a particular field of knowledge.” This is great news to me. I can be a master of dentistry, and I can be a master of writing.
In clinic, anything besides prosth was a waste of time for me, until now. Standard class Is, IIs, IIIs, etc.- these procedures may be very easy, but during the apprenticeship phase (ie. dental school) we must practice the easy things over and over again. You want to be so good at the easy things that you can do them without even thinking, freeing up the brain for higher level processes. We want to be so good that “the mind and body become completely fused” as one. This is what I need to aim to achieve every day. This reinterpretation of time and perspective is what will bring you closer to mastery.
On another level, don’t become comfortable. The best way to challenge yourself during the apprenticeship phase is to “be relentless in your pursuit for expansion. Whenever you feel like you are settling into some circle, force yourself to shake things up and look for new challenges.” Don’t be afraid to try new things, place your first post or do that #30 root canal. If you meet resistance, even better. “These difficulties will make you tougher and more aware of the flaws you need to correct. In physical exercise, resistance is a way to make the body stronger, and it is the same with the mind.”
Marcel Proust and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were my two favorite master profiles featured within this book. The writer and musician within myself was definitely intrigued, and In Search of Lost Time is now on my reading list. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become a master, but most masters, like Proust and Mozart, don’t make significant contributions to their fields until the 20,000 hour mark. Becoming a master is a lifelong commitment. Figure out your calling and start today.
Greene motivated me to focus on my professional and personal commitments in life. I want to grow, I want to push forward. From someone who has spent the majority of her life in school, “you must value learning above everything else. This will lead you to all of the right choices.”
Rating: 3.5 Teeth
This book is packed with great advice for an aspiring master, but some ideas were hit or miss. At times I was bored and had to force myself through certain sections. Reading this book was worth it for the chapters that I really connected with, and it will definitely give you direction.