Mastery

I recently finished Mastery by Robert Greene and wanted to share some of my key takeaways with you all.

Robert Greene discusses three phases of mastery, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the first phase, the apprenticeship phase, which is the time spent learning and discovering one's life’s work. I have 3 takeaways, 2 quotes, and 1 reason to convince you to read this book if you haven’t yet.

We’re all searching for something to master; it’s encoded into our DNA thanks to millions of years of evolution and natural selection.

3 Takeaways

• Acquire Knowledge Broadly: You should spend time exploring and studying a wide range of topics that interest you. Real mastery emerges when you combine knowledge from multiple fields into a unique niche. Don’t worry about what you’re learning, just focus on learning and exploring new topics.

• Seek Mentors: You should always be looking to others for guidance, especially those who have done what you’re trying to do. Absorbing information from a master is how most people learned about their specific field. However, you need to know when it’s time to find new mentors and continue the learning process over again. It’s time to move on once you have learned as much as your mentor can teach you.

• Resist Shortcuts and Hacks: The ten-thousand-hour rule applies here. True mastery takes a lot of time and focus. You have to commit to continually improving your craft, just like the all-time great athletes. There is no shortcut to mastery, and the sooner you accept this, the sooner you can put in the reps to become a master. The satisfaction comes from the relentless dedication and effort put forth to become a master.

2 Quotes

“You must understand the following: In order to master a field, you must love the subject and feel a profound connection to it. Your interest must transcend the field itself and border on the religious.”

“The time that leads to mastery is dependent on the intensity of our focus.”

― Robert Greene, Mastery

1 Reason to Read

You should read this book if you’ve ever thought about becoming the top 10% of your field. This book will help you understand exactly what it takes to become one of the best, and it provides you with the tactics to become a master of your field.

You shouldn’t read this book if you’re interested in being good and living within your comfort zone. The quest for mastery takes you way outside your comfort zone. That’s not for everybody, and that’s okay! However, if it is for you, consider Mastery by Robert Greene.