by Sunil Bali, 10-04-16

"Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself," said jazz legend Miles Davis.

It turns out that brilliance tends to occur as a result of years of improving skills and increasing authenticity.

In his book "Originals", Wharton Professor Adam Grant concludes that it’s this mix of years of practise and diminishing external influence that produces great work.

The tipping point occurs when the creator stops imitating and trusts his or her own talents.

Einstein was considered brilliant throughout his career across 248 publications, but his most important papers were published in a relatively brief span of several years when he said he relied on his own consciousness and creativity, rather than copy the problem solving approach of his esteemed mentors.

Mozart, Bach and Beethoven each created a staggering number of compositions, but each have only a handful that are regularly performed around the globe.

Only a fraction of Picasso’s prolific output are regarded as masterpieces.

Picasso said he would have produced more masterpieces if he had trusted his innate abilities earlier in his career. Picasso went on to say, "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."

Ultimately, it pays to be an original because originals are worth more than copies.

 

Humour

Bill Clinton collected $12million for his memoirs.

Hillary Clinton got $8million for hers.

That’s $20million for the memories of two people who for years have repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn’t remember anything.

 

A man is very overweight so his doctor puts him on a diet.

"I want you to eat regularly for two days," she tells him. "Then skip a day and repeat the procedure for two weeks. The next time I see you, you’ll have lost at least five pounds."

When the man returns, he’s lost nearly four stone. "Why that’s amazing," the doctor says. "Did you follow my instructions?"

The man nods. "I’ll tell you though, I thought I was going to drop dead that third day."

"From hunger you mean?" Asks the doctor.

"No," the man replies, "from skipping."

 

Live big & love deep.

Sunil

www.sunilbali.com