Saturday, February 9, 2013

Finding The Way

Everyone on the Internet is an expert.  Some of them might actually be.

It can be easy to feel like you are chasing an impossible goal when every blog you read makes it look like the author has it all sorted out and their code just flies off their finger tips ready for a quick spot of refactoring and then straight into production.

I don't think it's really like that but I still wonder sometimes if I could somehow make myself more productive by working slightly harder.

An old story  I found on the Aikido FAQ might tell you some of the mindset you ought to apply when studying martial arts and I think it applies to programming too.

A young boy traveled across Japan to the school of a famous martial artist. When he arrived at the dojo he was given an audience by the Sensei
"What do you wish from me?" the master asked. 
"I wish to be your student and become the finest kareteka in the land," the boy replied. "How long must I study?" 
"Ten years at least," the master answered. 
"Ten years is a long time," said the boy. "What if I studied twice as hard as all your other students?" 
"Twenty years," replied the master. 
"Twenty years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?" 
"Thirty years," was the master's reply. 
"How is it that each time I say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take longer?" the boy asked. 
"The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the Way."



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