I just finished reading a great book called The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson. I grabbed it because of a TED speech he gave back in ‘06. For those unfamiliar with TED, it stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design and they’ve been holding an annual conference of speeches by “the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers” since 1984. After seeing Robinson’s talk, I immediately purchased The Element and Out of Our Minds, two of his latest books.
The gist of The Element is that it discusses how people need to find “the point at which natural talent meets personal passion” and in doing so achieve a level of satisfaction in their lives that was previously unattainable. He details the stories of well known individuals, from actors and singers to scientists and business leaders, who have found their element and lead successful, fulfilling lives because of it. He also discusses how we can find the element in ourselves and further develop it.
Finding your element is similar to putting together a puzzle, it’ll take several pieces of your life, that at first glance don’t appear to interlock, but then as you shuffle, rearrange and re-examine, you’ll begin to see the links between them. The more pieces you link together, the clearer your picture of the element becomes. Finalizing the puzzle and discovering it, can only be described as an epiphany of the soul. It will make you feel unlike anything else in your life ever has, giving you an unrivaled sense of purpose. With so many lives spent in frustration, wondering what it is they are meant to do in this world, the element appears to be a key to unlocking that answer. I’ve experienced flashes of the element that let me know I’m on the right track, but am still trying to figure how I can make it all work in my current situation.
Two aspects of the element that I’m searching for, are tribes and mentors. A tribe isn’t just a group of like minded individuals, but people who are cut from the same cloth as yourself when it comes to the passion they feel for a particular interest. Pursuing your passion can be a difficult journey, especially if it involves radical change or deviates from what your social circles consider status quo. With no challenge to improve or collaboration or competition, moving to the next plateau seems to be an otherwise insurmountable task. Connecting with others, also facing the same challenges, can be an extremely motivating and reassuring. As I’ve mentioned in pervious posts (here & here), discussing writing or literature at the level I need has been a futile affair, which is one of the main reasons I’m attending the Stoker Awards in Burbank, CA. I can’t think of a better place to jumpstart the process than there.
Mentors are an age old concept, first appearing in Homer’s The Odyssey (Lateral Action has a great post about this.) According to Merriam-Webster a mentor is defined as “a trusted counselor or guide.” These individuals help people continue forward on their path, achieving success by benefiting from their guide’s experience and wisdom. They recognize the talent hidden in a person, one much similar to their own, and nurture it to achieve it’s full potential. For many, finding their mentor triggers their finding of the element, seeing in someone else the passion they harbor, matured and at the level of accomplishment they wish to achieve. Mentorship used to be built into our workforce in the form of apprenticeships, having seasoned workers take young ducklings under their wing, teaching them skills normally only time would reveal. In modern times, this practice is barely in effect anywhere, marginalizing our older workers and forcing our younger ones to stumble in the dark.
In spite of this, we still see examples of mentors successfully honing their protégé’s talents. One that immediately comes to mind is the rapper Eminem. Struggling to find his direction in the rap world, it was Dr. Dre’s molding of the young star that made him into the breakaway success he is now. Whatever your opinion of Eminem may be, he has consistently created music which debuts at #1 on the sales charts. This talent may have never come to fruition, if it weren’t for Dr. Dre noticing the ability and nurturing it to greater heights.
It’s been a long while since I’ve immersed myself in writing like this and even when I did before, it was in a vacuum, which is hard to sustain for any period of time. Knowing I have other pieces of the puzzle to seek, as opposed to continuously banging my head against a wall, is a motivation that was previously nonexistent. Little things are also coming into play, rewarding my diligence. I’m slowly amassing a pool of Beta Readers, whose talents and opinions I respect. That last part is crucial because anyone can read a piece and vomit out an “it’s good”, which does nothing for me. These folks (who happen to be good friends) are sharp, intellectuals, with an eye for detail that pushes me to be a better writer and a love of narrative that pushes me to be a better story teller. Little by little, I’m shimmying up the side of the cliff, climbing this bastard and making my way to the top. I’m not quite sure what the culmination of my efforts will produce, other than a published piece or two, but the journey itself is giving me more spark than I’ve tasted in years.
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Thank you so much for this blog. The way in which your writing encapsulates the message is brilliant. We lost so much when we undervalued apprenticeship,I hope that Community Colleges get the credit they deserve and never go that route. Let’s champion internship and mentoring and support Community Colleges and the value of Gap Years.