Do You Work Like a Dilettante or a Master?

“Consistency of practice is the mark of the master.” George Leonard

In a long moment of reflection, I pondered on the distinctive quality of a few gems of the world; the ones who tend to find it easy to do something spectacular, while most of us rarely go beyond the level of average. And the difference maker that I find is essentially in their attitude and approach to how they work. 

In addition, the common excuses that we make are not the real reason why only a few minds are influential experts in their fields and too many of us are mere dilettantes. 

Excuses like, “I am not a star only because I am not as talented as Michael Jordan.”

Or, “The competition of my industry is just too harsh, that’s why I can make a profit.”

Or, “I am not doing well at school because the courses are just too difficult to grasp.” 

Generally, all these apparent reasons for mediocrity are nothing more than excuses; the one factor that can override many limitations we face is our attitude and approach to how we do our work. 

To make this clear, let me illustrate the two polar approaches of a dilettante and a master. And at the end of this article, you can confirm whether you are on your way to becoming an expert or not—with regards to how you handle your craft.

How dilettantes Work

“It is raining now,” he says, “so I don’t think I can practice my craft today. I will rather take some tea and watch a good movie. I have been working hard for a few days. I deserve a little rest.” After all, ‘all work and no play make Jack, a dull boy.’ he argues.

That’s a classic moment in the life of amateurs. Their attitude and approach to their work is often dictated by external conditions and negative internal moods. 

Yes, they show up for work, and work superbly well, but only when the conditions are perfect, their mood is awesome and they are feeling really great. 

Any time they encounter negative conditions, internally or externally, they don’t pay their darn due for that day. For this reason, they dabble their way through life without a mastery of an essential skill that they want.

But masters approach their work in an inspiringly different way.

How Masters Work

In the same day situation as the above, a master will say. “Come heat or cold, I can’t afford to miss a day of practice.” Masters pay their due on any day. Because they thoroughly understand that the practical proof of their commitment is by keeping every session of their rehearsal.

On this point, I recently read a leadership book by Mike Murdock, wherein he mentions the words of a bestselling fiction writer with regard to how he works and lives. He says: “I get up at the same time every morning. I start writing at 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each afternoon. I do it every day. It is a habit.”

This ability to show every day, to show-up and deliver, no matter what, (especially when it is easier not to) is extremely important that I have come to conclude that it is not only the difference between masters from amateurs. It is also what separates the great nations from the rest of the world. 

Now, it is your turn…

Decide to Live and Work like a Master

As you can see, both masters and dilettantes are ambitious enough to have goals to aim at but what separates them is not necessarily in having grand goals but in their level of commitment to the goals they set. As George Leonard points out for us; the discipline of unremitting consistency is the overriding mark of a true master. 

Masters always manage to show up for their most important work, but dilettantes are frequently at the mercy of their caprices and motivation. Masters make themselves do what they need to do, when they need to do it, whether they feel like it or not, but typical dilettantes approach their work in the exact opposite way.

Since awareness precedes choices. I hope I have done a little to help you make a permanent move into the class of masters with regards to how you live and work. 

In closing, I will leave you with the words of the author of ‘Pillars of Prosperity,’ James Allen as a parting gift to aid your resolution in this respect. He said: “A man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the will of others but he can mold and master his own will: and things serve him who serves Truth; people seek guidance of him who is the master of himself.”

And only those who are masters of themselves can truly be the masters of anything else.