The Power of Practice Will Elevate Your Life
Think of your dream as "a practice" and live at a higher level
The Practice
What is your dream? How do you make it a reality?
We can start off by practicing our dream on a daily basis.
I also like the idea of making a dream “a practice.” What is a practice?
Practice: (noun) The continuous exercise of a profession. The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method.
Profession: (noun) a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.
There are many concepts that do not have adequate definitions (such as success). I do not like being constrained by existing definitions. I like to add to the meaning of words. Expansion is good.
We commonly associate the term “practice” to medical and legal professions. But what if we looked at our dream as a practice? What if we pursue our dream on a consistent basis, continuously improve and expand our skills, operate with integrity, serve with humility, and hold to a standard of excellence and mastery?
What if?
Greater Value
A skill is valuable. But having a deeper understanding of a skill is of greater value.
We could have a skill of making hamburgers. That will only get you so far.
Or, you could have a practice of crafting hamburgers. You understand how to craft a hamburger. You know the nutritional values. You know the different qualities of meat, bread and vegetables. You know where to source the best ingredients. You know how to cook on different heat sources. You know the spices that can bring out different flavors. You know how to delight and educate your customers. And on, and on, for the rest of your life, to mastery and beyond.
There is always something new to learn, there is always a next level, especially when you envision what you do as a practice.
Way of Life
A practice is also a way of life. It gives us a sense of growth, accomplishment, and even pride. We always look for new ideas. Always experimenting. Always enjoying.
Our dream can be our culture. It can influence how we dress, what events we go to, the people we admire. It can connect us to history and challenge us to leave our own contribution.
McDonald’s created a legacy for low cost burgers. Why not leave a legacy for the highest quality in taste and service?
Path to Mastery
A practice is a path to mastery. If you do something long enough you become a master. There’s not just one thing to master but all things connected to it can be mastered. It is a lifelong process.
If you are a master, you gain a reputation. People seek you out. Especially if you are a master of barbecue.
In Texas, barbecue is a big thing. And being a pitmaster is a thing. If you're ever in Waco, check out Helberg Barbecue (see story below).
Masters Are Made
Benjamin Bloom, a professor of education at the University of Chicago, published a book in 1985 titled, "Developing Talent in Young People." The book revealed the conclusion from detailed studies that there is no correlation between IQ and expert performance. Some of the fields that were examined were music, chess, sports, and medicine.
The characteristics that made high performers were extensive practice, caring teachers, and strong family support. Additional research shows that the amount and quality of practice were key factors in the level of expertise people achieved.
The conclusion was: experts are made, not born. (ref)
Finally
Every day is not the same when we have a mindset of mastery. Every day we build upon the previous day.
This is our time. This is our life. Why not build something that we believe in, and serve others?
What is your practice?
To your success!
P.S. Here are a couple of inspiring stories!
The Helberg BBQ Dream Story
I love this story. It contains some of the key ingredients of pursuing your dreams:
Find something you enjoy.
Become obsessed (a way of life).
Become a master (the result of long practice).
"Helberg Barbecue was established in southern California in 2017 by husband and wife team Phillip and Yvette Helberg. Phillip—a native Texan—has always loved to cook, and after a few attempts at cooking briskets, became obsessed with mastering the craft of Central Texas-Style Barbecue. After numerous road trips across Texas sampling barbecue and scouting the state for a great city to grow their business and family, they decided it was time to move the business back to Phillip’s home state. Just 3 months after pulling across the cattle guard of their ranch in Crawford for the first time, the Helberg Barbecue food trailer opened on April 27, 2018."
In May of 2019, Helberg Barbecue was named a "Top 25 Best New BBQ Joints in Texas" by Texas Monthly Magazine.
Src: helbergbarbecue.com
The Very Tiny Burger Bar
This little 10x10 foot building proves you don't have to go big to create a living and a legacy! Also, note the brilliance of giving your teenage daughter a business to run. Wow!
The Burger Bar, in Cleburne, Texas, was founded 1949 by Ora Lanman. Dorthy Bays took over in 1962. Forty-three years later she sold it to Katy Grantges. Actually her dad bought it and gave his daughter Katy a job. She was a sophomore in highschool at the time (what a great idea!).
The Burger Bar is still going today. The building is only ten by ten feet. There is only room for four customers (some say two). Most orders are to-go. The burgers are cooked on the same grill as the first burger cooked in 1949!
Src: https://thetexasbucketlist.com/2017/12/the-texas-bucket-list-the-burger-bar-in-cleburne/
Books Books Books
My dream is to write small but powerful books on success. You have to start somewhere.