Oxymorons are tricky business, but I promise you they are a substantial part of any success paradigm. And right up front, for the sake of clarity, when I speak of your “art,” I’m referring to that unique set of talents and skills that you and only you have to offer, whatever that may be.
I’ve been researching this “oxymoron phenomenon” that seems to invade our thoughts more times than not for a while now in preparation for my upcoming book, and I’m nothing less than blown away by not only its relevance in terms of achieving personal success, but the radically counterintuitive nature it imposes on our thinking process. To wit:
The Problem
You’ve been diligent with not only recognizing your art, but enacting an intense study of your domain, critical to any type of verifiably positive outcome. You have literally become your art in the sense that you’ve keep a strong focus on it, done extensive homework in your area, strived to surround yourself with peers that have gained your respect to enhance your perspective, and put your “failure is not an option” mantra on the fridge. You’re literally living and breathing your chosen field. And by the way, congratulations!
But, (you knew this was coming) with all of this in place, here’s what you’re experiencing.
All too many times you’re seeing people in this same field who in your humble opinion, and with your egocentrism in check, that are either much less qualified than you or at best an average artisan of the trade, that seem to just flourish. Much to your dismay, they are not only experiencing more success than you, but (almost insult on top of injury) seem to exhibit a sense of happiness and well-being that you notice easily trumps your own. You ask; what am I seeing here? What do I do with this insight – and most importantly – what’s really happening here that I’m obviously missing?
The Solution
The answer to this dilemma is twofold, hence the title for this blog. First, the importance of you living and breathing your art is critical – without question – and I have no hesitation in taking that position. Immersing yourself in every aspect of your domain has (historically I might add) been one of the cornerstones of personal achievement. I’d cite examples, but you already know them.
But here’s the kicker: this action you’ve taken still remains to be a limited perspective in terms of your personal and professional potential. It’s just part of the puzzle if you will, a “necessary” one, but just part of a bigger picture you need to see which undoubtedly your cohorts have.
As a wise man once said; you are “not” your art. It took me literally a few decades to see that one, but that statement is right on the money. Your art is what you do, but far from being the totality of who you are. Think about it. Logic (and some serious work by the eminent psychologist Howard Gardner) tells us we have been endowed with multiple intelligences. Your strengths, what you have to offer as an individual, are not limited to just one aspect of yourself. You’re not just a technician, an artist, a white or blue collar worker, or a cog in the machinery for that matter. You’re a diversely intelligent, multi-faceted, “emotionally” intelligent (from author Daniel Goleman) individual, and all those inherent qualities need to be in play to excel in a 21st Century work environment, without question.
We now live in what has been termed as the Conceptual Age (moving beyond the Information Age) which calls for criteria such as Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning. We also live in what has been termed the Connection Economy in which value is created by the connections we make and not by industrialism. Both of these turnarounds will call upon all of your unique and individual talents, not just your art. You have to investigate the greater you and put it to work.
Become, and master your art – a wise decision.
Become, and master your entire persona – transformational.
Some Thoughts
Here’s a little backup to consider in terms of the premise of this article.
Daniel Goleman, author of the book Emotional Intelligence, did a survey on what companies are looking for when hiring. He went to 150 companies in 30 countries and found that two out of three CEO’s were more concerned with the applicant’s emotional intelligence (soft skills) than their IQ and technical know-how.
Steve Jobs at the height of the Apple dynasty commented that when hiring, he wanted to know what else the applicant had to offer beyond their (seriously required) technical skills. He mentioned the ones he chose were “also” artists, chefs, micropreneurs, designers, sports enthusiasts, you name it. He craved diversity in his employees.
Here’s a quote from entrepreneur and marketing genius Seth Godin. “We spend or time and energy trying to perfect our craft, but we don’t focus on the skills and interactions that will allow us to stand out and become indispensable to our organizations.”
And finally, a study of Harvard graduates in the fields of law. medicine, teaching, and business found that scores on entrances exams—a surrogate for IQ—had zero or negative correlation with their eventual career success. Kind of interesting, wouldn’t you say?
So the question remains: On a much broader scale, just who exactly are you? Answer that, and then get busy!
