My last LONG post---PROMISE!!!

But for the sake of understanding I wanted to Dissect this whole "Expert" thing….




The Book that sparked this whole idea.....


I know some people may be real skeptical about the whole 10,000 hours notion. Upon discovering this I too wondered what really makes someone an expert at something. Can this be achieved by ordinary folk? I’ve always thought that people who were extremely good at something had a step up over the rest of us common folk. You know they had the “extra” on top of our “ordinary” which of course made them extraordinary. I’m not trying to discount their hard work but that’s the thing, I guess I was so taken by their “Image” that I didn’t give much thought to “the behind the scenes work” that made them so good. Let’s take Michael Jordan for instance. I’m not even into basketball and I know that he’s one of the most prolific players of all time (my brother was obsessed with him). But did you know that in 10th grade he was cut from his basketball team. But what kept him going as he says “was his relentlessness and determination to be the best”. He’s not the only one. Just for fun check out this link of famous people, who like Michael Jordon, have had some setbacks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6hz_s2XIAU.

You know, come to think of it, I used to be relentless just like that. When I first began sewing I was truly obsessed and probably possessed (LOL)! I was consumed with it. I knew things got pretty bad when I would check out 30 sewing books from the library at one time and had some even sent from other branches. When I went through their resources I began researching and buying my own book, etc. I just craved learning more and trying new things. I amassed a library that I am very well pleased with. I have some of the top rated sewing instructional DVD’s, books, etc on every topic from textiles, to draping, to drafting, to etc.etc.etc. Maybe this isn’t necessary for everyone, but for me it was.

But somewhere along the line I began to lose steam and at some times stall. It didn’t happen suddenly but gradually. As the UFO’s and wadders began to pile up--- so did my feelings of inferiority. It seems I was uncomfortable with my own failures. Thing began to change when I really accepted that learning is a process (we all know this but do we accept it?). The thing that makes someone an expert, as Merriam Webster defines, “is having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience”---is experience. Failures are just as much a part of the whole process of learning. So maybe, just maybe, if I (We) kick in enough hard work and accept the success and failures that will result that I (we) too can become extraordinary—an extraordinary seamstress!!! Now that’s a thought. I’ve since returned to my old “relentless self” determined to see how far I can go with this. Maybe Michael Jordan is right, maybe sometimes you have to ……...”Just Do It. What are your thoughts?