{"id":4779,"date":"2021-01-23T21:13:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T13:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/darylchow.com\/frontiers\/?p=4779"},"modified":"2024-05-11T17:55:01","modified_gmt":"2024-05-11T09:55:01","slug":"craft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/darylchow.com\/frontiers\/craft\/","title":{"rendered":"Devotion to the Craft Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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><\/strong>,<\/a> a weekly Substack published, originally released on 23 Jun 2021. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PART I<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Listen<\/strong>: Interview with Jerry Seinfeld by Tim Ferriss<\/a><\/strong>
    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<\/a><\/strong>. 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.
     <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Web-Read:<\/strong> 64 Reasons to Celebrate Paul McCartney<\/a><\/strong>
    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). 
     <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Documentary: Jiro Dreams of Sushi<\/a><\/strong>
    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.
     <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Short-Documentary: I Spent 3 Months With A Japanese Master Craftsman<\/a><\/strong>
    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.
     <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Words Worth Contemplating:<\/strong>\u00a0
    \u201c(Great creative minds)\u00a0think like artists but work like accountants.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0~\u00a0David Brooks
    <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    PART II<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    1. From My Desk:<\/strong> Consistency<\/a><\/strong> 
       <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Watch<\/strong>: 10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki<\/a><\/strong>
      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<\/a><\/strong> from the documentary. Fascinating to learn about his heartrending relationship with his ill-mother, his difficulties with his son who works with him. <\/em>

      (Hat-Tip to Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals. His       Twitter<\/a><\/strong> post shows screenshots of Miyazaki in constant struggle. Worth checking out.)
       <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Audiobook: Born Standing Up by Steve Martin<\/a><\/strong>
      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).
       <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Watch: The Last Dance<\/a><\/strong>
      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.)
       <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Words Worth Contemplating:<\/strong>  
      “We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training”. <\/strong><\/em>
      ~Archilochus<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Reflection:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      If being consistent means keeping a promise to yourself, what do you need to be consistent with <\/strong>in order to become better at what you do as a therapist?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      PART III<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Watch: Won’t You Be My Neighbor<\/a><\/strong>
        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)<\/a><\/strong>,  this New York Times article The Mister Rogers No One Saw<\/a><\/strong>, and an interview with Charlie Rose<\/a><\/strong> in 1997.
        Fred Rogers is truly a man devoted to his mission. 
         <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Watch: 60 mins with Roger Federer<\/a><\/strong>
        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<\/a><\/strong>. 
        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\u2019s fence, and soccer at school…He found that the sport really didn\u2019t matter much, so long as it included a ball.” <\/em>

        In this         60 mins interview<\/a><\/strong>, 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?<\/a><\/strong>)
         <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Read: Peak by Ericsson and Pool<\/a><\/strong>
        I still think of Ericsson… He had such a big impact on me. (Listen to this         podcast episode<\/a><\/strong>)
        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)<\/a><\/strong> (it’s a tomb), and the lesser known Development of Professional Expertise<\/a><\/strong> (more specialised discussion).
         <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Read: On Writing Well by William Zinnser<\/a><\/strong>
        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.
         <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Words Worth Contemplating: <\/strong>
        \u201cThe more basic knowledge you have \u2026 the less new knowledge you have to get.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>~ Charlie Munger<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Reflection<\/strong>: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Who do you look up to? What attributes do you admire in these people?
        And what does that\u00a0mirror about what’s possible in you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Part IV<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        one relevant quote\/poem\/song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. Read: Turning Pro<\/a><\/strong>
          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.”<\/em>
          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 <\/strong>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).
           <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Watch: Scriptwriter Aaron Sorkin<\/a><\/strong>
          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<\/strong>

          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.
           <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Watch: Oliver Sacks Documentary, His Own Life<\/a><\/strong>
          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.
           <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Read: How Long did It Took Leonard Cohen to write Hallelujah?<\/a> <\/strong>
          Do you know the answer? 
          Spolier: 5 years, with more than 80 drafts.
          Hallelujah was covered by more than 300 artists.
           <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Worths Worth Contemplating:<\/strong>
          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.<\/em>
          ~Leonard Cohen, Anthem
           <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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          \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          This was a gift… It’s a dot drawing of Leonard Cohen. Amazing, isn’t it?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Reflection:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Do you see a difference in seeking excellence<\/a><\/strong> versus seeking perfection<\/a><\/strong>?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          PART V<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          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.<\/a><\/strong>) 

          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<\/p>\n\n\n\n