Here is a series on the topic people from all walks of life who devote themselves to their craft.
Note: This is a compilation from Frontier Friday, a weekly Substack published, originally released on 23 Jun 2021.
PART I
- Listen: Interview with Jerry Seinfeld by Tim Ferriss
I’m a huge fan of Jerry Seinfeld. Given his output across the last 2-3 decades, I’ve always been interested in his system. So when he appeared on this podcast, I was stoked to learn about the story behind the story and how he devotes himself to the craft by writing.
- Web-Read: 64 Reasons to Celebrate Paul McCartney
It’s not secret that I’m a huge fan of the Beatles. When I was a teen, I secretly applied to the music school opened by Paul McCartney.
In this article, I’ve learned things about McCartney that I didn’t know before. Not one to rest on his laurels, he reminds prolific all these years, with a new album McCartney III (My favorite album of his is Chaos and Creation).
- Documentary: Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Thanks to the recommendation of the late Rich Simon (editor of Psychotherapy Networker), I saw this nearly a decade ago, and it’s still etched in my memory. Especially the part when Jiro is teaching his son about a particular way to prepare the rice for the sushi.
- Short-Documentary: I Spent 3 Months With A Japanese Master Craftsman
Watch a master craftsman work on a single table… for 3 months.
As you watch this, remember that you’ve got to be specific in your deliberate practice efforts. It doesn’t get easier; you get better.
- Words Worth Contemplating:
“(Great creative minds) think like artists but work like accountants.” ~ David Brooks
PART II
- From My Desk: Consistency
- Watch: 10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki
I spent the last five days watching this 4-part documentary of the fame animator of Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo… and so many more.
I love going behind the scenes, and to see people working at their craft.
This documentary takes you on the inside of Gimbli Studios and the creative force (and grumpiness) of Miyazaki.
If you are interested, here are my notes from the documentary. Fascinating to learn about his heartrending relationship with his ill-mother, his difficulties with his son who works with him.
(Hat-Tip to Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals. His Twitter post shows screenshots of Miyazaki in constant struggle. Worth checking out.)
- Audiobook: Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
Many of you would know the Hollywood comedian Steve Martin. Did you know about the sacrifice and hardship he took to become one of greats in his field?
Here’s from the blurb: “At age 10 Martin started his career at Disneyland, selling guidebooks in the newly opened theme park. In the decade that followed, he worked in the Disney magic shop and the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm, performing his first magic/comedy act a dozen times a week. The story of these years, during which he practiced and honed his craft, is moving and revelatory.”
I love the fact that he combined his love for bluegrass music playing his banjo with his stand-up comedy.
(I recommend the audiobook version because it’s impactful hearing Steve Martin’s voice his own words, not by some professional narrator).
- Watch: The Last Dance
The Chicago Bulls basketball empire goes down in NBA history as one for the legends.
I grew up watching the Bulls and admiring Jordan like any kid interested in basketball.
It was years later that I learned about the roll head coach Phil Jackson played.
This documentary was a treat and an eye-opener for me.
(I liked how Jackson harnessed the gift of the rebel-figure Dennis Rodman. He tried to give Rodman the space that he needs, even if it came with a cost. He called Rodman a “heyoka”… In native American culture, Jackson said this referred to someone who walks backwards.)
- Words Worth Contemplating:
“We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training”.
~Archilochus
Reflection:
If being consistent means keeping a promise to yourself, what do you need to be consistent with in order to become better at what you do as a therapist?
PART III
- Watch: Won’t You Be My Neighbor
I didn’t grow up watching any of Fred Rogers program, but this HBO documentary on Fred Rogers left me in tears. I am adult fan of his now.
Pair this with a recent film starring Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), this New York Times article The Mister Rogers No One Saw, and an interview with Charlie Rose in 1997.
Fred Rogers is truly a man devoted to his mission.
- Watch: 60 mins with Roger Federer
I’m always on the lookout to study the behind-the-scenes of world-class performers who aren’t assholes.
I’m not a tennis geek, but Roger Federer stands out.
I first came to notice about Federer’s story through David Epstein’s excellent book, Range.
In the first chapter, Epstein contrasted Tiger Woods “early specialisation” story with Federer’s initial meanderings of interest:
“His mom was a coach, but she never coached him. He would kick a ball around with her when he learned to walk. As a boy, he played squash with his father on Sundays. He dabbled in skiing, wrestling, swimming, and skateboarding. He played basketball, handball, tennis, table tennis, badminton over his neighbor’s fence, and soccer at school…He found that the sport really didn’t matter much, so long as it included a ball.”
In this 60 mins interview, I was surprised to learn that Federer used to have a temper. But the loss of a dear friend woke him up…
(See related Frontiers blogpost: What Does General Athleticism Got to Do With Psychotherapeutic Skills?)
- Read: Peak by Ericsson and Pool
I still think of Ericsson… He had such a big impact on me. (Listen to this podcast episode)
This long overdue book is a cumulation of his body of work, written for the public.
If you want to dive in further on the topic of development of expertise, I highly recommend you read the edited books Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance (2nd edition) (it’s a tomb), and the lesser known Development of Professional Expertise (more specialised discussion).
- Read: On Writing Well by William Zinnser
This is one of the first books I got on improving writing. A copy editor recommended me this book several years ago. Writing has been a practice I’ve adopted. Writing has become a way to not just write what I know, but “write in order to know”. It helps me clarify and sharpen my thinking.
“Good writing is re-writing,” someone once said. Zinnser takes you to the heart of this process.
I’d need to re-visit this book some time soon.
- Words Worth Contemplating:
“The more basic knowledge you have … the less new knowledge you have to get.”~ Charlie Munger
Reflection:
Who do you look up to? What attributes do you admire in these people?
And what does that mirror about what’s possible in you?
Part IV
one relevant quote/poem/song.
- Read: Turning Pro
Steven Pressfield is an earnest man devoted to the craft of writing and storytelling. He’s known for a book called the War of Art (not the Art of War).
I really liked War of Art. It was a good kick-up-the-butt type of book in dealing with our inner-resistance.
In Turning Pro, Pressfield knuckles you down to the price of what it means to turn pro.
“The passage from amateur to professional is often achieved via an interior odyssey… We pass through a membrane when we turn pro. It’s messy and it’s scary. We tread in blood when we turn pro.”
We call ourselves “professionals,” but do not behave like a pro. More, most of us don’t have habits and systems to support what’s required to do the work that demands of us in this therapeutic space.
I read Turning Pro in August 2016. It helped me turn up the dial and embrace a lot more of what’s possible. (But doesn’t stop me from feeling like a perpetual amateur).
- Watch: Scriptwriter Aaron Sorkin
Fame screenwriter and film producer/director Aaron Sorkin says that one of the key things he keeps in mind developing a plot for the protagonist is the following:
Character = Intentions + Obstacles
Watch any of the shows he has a hand on, like the Trial of Chicago 7 (Probably the best movie of the year), Social Network, A Few Good Men, West Wing, Newsroom, … you’d see a master at his craft.
- Watch: Oliver Sacks Documentary, His Own Life
I bet you’ve at least come across the late neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks books.
I was super excited to hear that they made a documentary about his.
It was particularly moving to learn about how he struggled with his sexuality during the times that he was in.
- Read: How Long did It Took Leonard Cohen to write Hallelujah?
Do you know the answer?
Spolier: 5 years, with more than 80 drafts.
Hallelujah was covered by more than 300 artists.
- Worths Worth Contemplating:
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.
~Leonard Cohen, Anthem
This was a gift… It’s a dot drawing of Leonard Cohen. Amazing, isn’t it?
Reflection:
Do you see a difference in seeking excellence versus seeking perfection?
PART V
In Part 5 of Devotion to the Craft, I’m focusing on the world of music. (Those who know me, know that besides my obsession with the craft of therapy, music is the other world I spend alot of my headspace in. Related post: The Music of Psychotherapy.)
Particularly, I’d explore musicians who did not “stick to a formula” but continued to push their boundaries and reinvent themselves over the course of their career.
Why is this relevant to therapists?
Two reasons. First, there is a a lot to learn about what it takes to keep going at our own frontier by emulating those who did. What I’m learning from these musicians is that
- Struggle is a consistent theme
- It doesn’t get easier, but they get better.
Second, as practitioners, it’s really tempting to “settle down” with a theoretical framework and not continuously challenge our set of ideas, beliefs and principles. (I’m currently reading Adam Grant’s new book that targets this called Think Again. This book might end up in our of my Top 10 list that I’m currently working on for a podcast episode…I super-admire–jealous even– of Grant’s level of creative productive as a writer.)
Here’s the first 5 artists (1 is a quote from a legend) I’d highlight:
- The Beatles
Who doesn’t love the Beatles? Let’s not forget, in a short span of less than 9 years, The Beatles rewrote the rules of pop music. Music historian Ted Goia noted, the one thing they didn’t do is “subscribe to a formula.” The Monkees tried to mimic them to a formula, but the Beatles changed within 5-6 months.
Another notable perspective from Goia: “The best music are under our radar. Radio and record labels are looking for the formula.”
Compare their earlier albums like Please Please Me (1963) with Sgt Pepper (1967) (or even Revolver, 1966).
- David Bowie
No need for further explanation. If you don’t know about him, watch The Man Who Changed the World.
Writer Neil Gaiman shares this story about David Bowie meeting a boy who was a huge fan of his (Bowie starred in the movie Labyrinth) but was extremely shy.
In this little story, Bowie reveals how his “masks” allows his to true self to come out.
From time to time, I share this story with clients who might resonate with this. Reminds me of how Ketih Johnstone taught improv actors by the use of wearing a mask, so that they can be free to play.
- Radiohead
Radiohead epitomises what it means to continuously reinvent themselves. Even after a success like OK Computer, they continued to push boundaries and come with something like Kid A.
Even though their music is different, their evolution reminds me of The Beatles.
Compare their first album, Pablo Honey (1993) with their last release, Moon Shaped Pool.
(I better stop here on Radiohead, as I can go on and on…)
- Tame Impala
I have to mention Tame Impala. The single person behind this outfit is Kevin Parker.
What impresses me the most about Parker’s evolution is the amount of constrains he worked with, recording from his bedroom, and how that evolved to become a signature sound that is highly sought after, even from the greats in hip hop.
Compare InnerSpeaker (2010) with his last album The Slow Rush (2020). His signature sound remains but everything else has changed
Proud to say his from Perth!
- Words Worth Contemplating
“Man, sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself.” ~ Miles Davis
Reflection:
How have you evolved?
What have you changed or updated your mind about over the years?
And why is our personal evolution important?
Part VI
…More from the world of music. See Also previous newsletter
1. Bjork, 2. Damien Albarn 3. RIck Rubin 4. Sujan Stevens 5. Simplepractice link to REP
- Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin was known for working as a producer with alternative rock bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nice Inch Nails, AC/DC, and death metal acts like Slayer. He also co-founded the renowned Hip-Hop outfit Def Jam.
What really moved me was his work with Johnny Cash.
I’ve previously talked about Rick Rubin from the lens of clinical supervision. The Skills of a Supervisor Is Not the Same as a Therapist.
In the music documentary Soundbreaking, Rick Rubin said, “A lot of my job is like being a therapist. You want to make them feel so safe when they open themselves up in such a vulnerable moment, and show themselves so completely.” - Damon Albarn
Growing up listening to Brit Pop bands like Blur, made me really intrigued to watch their frontman Damon Albarn evolve so far in his career.
Once again, instead of sticking to a formula, Albarn’s work continuously pushes the boundaries.
In the field of psychotherapy, we need more role models like that.
Compare Blur’s work to his projects with the Gorillaz, or his solo project Mali Music.
- Bjork
This woman’s evolution scares me.
For some reason, I have watched the Documentary “The Making of Homogenic” several times. (I doubt it’s just the beautiful cadence and prosody of her Icelandic accent).
Questions were raised about whether the “soul” of music is lost in electric music. Bjork insists that the soul is what you put into it.
Once again, Bjork’s someone who is constantly pushing the envelope.
Compare her early work Debut to my all time favorite Vespertine.
- Sufjan Stevens
This is one young and prolific singer-songwriter.
I’m adding Sufjan Steven to the list not only for what he has produced so far, but I’m really interested to see what he will do in 10 years time.
If you know of clients who grew up struggling with trauma/neglect or lived with a parent who was unwell, Sufjan Steven’s poignant album Carrie and Lowell is a highly recommended listen. He opens up about his childhood experience growing up with a mom who dealt schizophrenia and alcoholism. (Read this interview with Lowell Brams, Sufjan’s father).
- Words Worth Contemplating
“The dedication to mastery needs the mastery of Practice.”
~ From Creators on Creating, Frank Barron et al., 1997, p. 172.
Reflection:
What does your practice look like? (not clinical practice, but deliberate practice).
Which area of your practice is in growth mode? Which area is in maintenance mode?
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