The journey to knowledge should not be underestimated

“Once you know the way, broadly you will see it in all things.”
– Miyamoto Musashi
They say it takes 10 years to master any pursuit. That’s good news.
Over the course of a typical lifespan, people that apply themselves can get really good at a lot of things. You always hear about the engineer that was a concert pianist or the inventor that was also a gourmet chef. Somehow the greats always hang out where art meets science at a high level and we marvel at how matter of fact they are about it.
When you learn to read, it’s words and sentences. Teachers feed you ideas expressed in form. Once you learn to read and write, you have the tools to bend the words in ways that convey your own ideas and thoughts. Alas, the science of language becomes art as you apply it.
When you learn an instrument, it’s notes and measures. Teachers give you the structure and form of music to understand what songs are made of. Once you internalize the lessons of form, you make music of your own. The science of the music becomes art as you apply it. The less you think about it, the better it sounds.
Applying your knowledge
As a jujitsu white belt, the master shows you the moves. But in combat, the moves don’t come. Searching for the moves, the time passes and you get caught. Eventually, after years of practice, you become unconscious of the moves, just like you become unconscious of the letters, sentences, notes and measures. You learn to speak the martial art in response to the moves of your opponent. The science of the fight becomes art as you apply it.
The pathway of instruction is always the same. First the science, then the art. And any high level master of martial arts, music or language will tell you that the journey only begins when science and art are fully integrated into creative expression.
My experience in business and management has shown me a world where we do a good job teaching the science of transactions between vendors or buyers, managers and employees, lawyers and clients.
But we seldom hear of them being taught as forms of art with a conscious progression toward creative ends. What is business aside from creative expression? And what is strategy without vision? What is good management without collective manifestation?
Young leaders, you are on a journey full of lessons that will synthesize into artful practice in time. Your technical skills are the basis of that expression, regardless of your discipline.
Learn the deals of your company, the means of your machines, and motives and interests of your people. In time, through trial and error, you will begin to apply your knowledge of self and knowledge of business into complex circumstances with unconscious ease.
It is the accumulation of technical, relational and circumstantial insights that will give rise to your creative expressions in business. Alas, the science of business will become art as you apply it. ●
Daniel Flowers is president and CEO at the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.