10,000 HOURS TO MASTERY Master Prophet E. Bernard Jordan LESSON 8 THE PAIN OF MASTERY

“Wisdom does not show itself so much in precept as in life - in firmness of mind and a mastery of appetite. It teaches us to do as well as to talk; and to make our words and actions all of a color.” (Seneca)

MISUNDERSTANDING MASTERY Leroy “Satchel” Paige was the greatest pitcher in black baseball and one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He was misunderstood because part of his genius was to defy the system. He refused to honor contracts that limited his ability. Pitching more than 5,000 games for teams all over the world cemented his mastery at a young age. But he was punished by white baseball for being too bold and colorful and was not called to the major leagues until 1948.

MISUNDERSTANDING MASTERY (CON’T) Mastery is often misunderstood by those who do not embrace it. Masters are outliers, apart from the mainstream of society. Those who do not conform are often feared by those who make the rules. The pursuit of mastery is inherently humiliating to those who see their own failures brought into sharp relief by the light of your excellence.

PREPARATION FOR THE PAIN… The pain of mastery is something you must prepare for. Transcendent masters are often cast out by the society they only wish to serve. Mastery is not justice! Example: Charlie Parker, the greatest jazz saxophone player of all time. In the pursuit of the mastery of his art and the invention of bebop music, he became addicted to heroin. He was not supported by the society that worshipped his greatness, because the same society also feared it.

PREPARATION FOR THE PAIN (CON’T) Example: Pablo Picasso, whose paintings were derided as “abominations” upon their first showings in London. He went on to create the form known as Cubism, but took decades to be accepted. Example: David Foster Wallace, author of Infinite Jest, one of the most gifted writers in a generation, who hanged himself due to the relentless depression that fueled his greatness. Part of mastery is accepting that you will suffer for your pursuit of greatness and accepting that this is for the greater good!

WHY PURSUE MASTERY? Why pursue mastery if this is the case? Why step out from the crowd and subject yourself to persecution for being different and forcing others to look at their flaws? Because the student of mastery HAS NO CHOICE. To be a master is not a decision, it is a compulsion, a holy mission.

THE LOSS OF SELF The second great pain of mastery: the loss of self. “When you are in your passion, it takes control of you. You find yourself led in directions you would never have chosen before.”— Gary Zelesky, Passion expert, speaker and author of The Passion Centered Professional. The inborn compulsion that guides people to the pursuit of mastery becomes like possession. A Divine force drives you to spend all your time and energies acquiring mastery.

THE LOSS OF SELF (CON’T) This loss of control can be disturbing to some. “Where is the interest in other things?” “Am I no longer a well-rounded individual?” At the same time, mastery can be euphoric, drug- like. You work all day and night without fatigue. You neglect your relationships. You neglect your appearance. The passion and purpose of mastery plug you into a powerful cosmic energy source that leaves you no choice but to give yourself to it entirely.

THE LOSS OF SELF (CON’T) Many people pursue mastery at a younger age: they have fewer connections to sever. If you are serving yourself, ego will make you afraid. This fear can compel you to cease your learning.

SUPPRESSED MASTERY The final, worst pain of mastery is mastery suppressed. Give in to the fear of loss of self and go back to the pack of the ordinary, and you will die slowly inside. The exaltation of plugging into your “passion source” followed by the severance from that source is a far worse agony than never knowing passion at all!

SUPPRESSED MASTERY (CON’T) Only five percent of all God’s children will ever try to develop mastery. Will you be in that small, but select, group? The pain of segregation from the mainstream and of the loss of your volition will be exceeded by the purpose and power you experience as you draw close to mastery.

10,000 HOURS TO MASTERY Master Prophet E. Bernard Jordan LESSON 8 THE PAIN OF MASTERY