There is an actual key to success in any domain or profession. This key is what the whole educational system tries to imitate unsuccessfully. I am referring to what we call seasoning, as previously defined. Seasoning, is truly the secret to success.
Seasoning is taking a long period of time in which the specific knowledge and skills grow and develop. Schooling and apprenticeship is a form of seasoning, but not as long or focused as it should be.
Seasoning in the past.
In the past, professions were handed down from generation to generation. The skills and know how, were transmitted from father to son. This passing of professions, meant that the new professional had a lifetime of seasoning. Since childhood, the learning process starts, by helping the father, and learning the secrets of the trade . This was the case with almost all professions, smith, baker, farmer, fisher … That is how humanity managed to improve, and take big steps forward in every domain.
Scientists, philosopher, artists and statesmen, always recognize the importance of seasoning in accomplishing goals. They know that success can not be hurried. They understand that every step along the road of achievement is a necessary one.
French philosopher Blaise Pascal, had written a text on the common man’s relation with time (added at the end). Pascal sees people as if they anticipate the future as too slow and coming. And in being unwilling to devote hours of time, to the kind of seasoning it takes to become accomplished at anything, they waste their lives by doing nothing at all. And they wonder why they always feel so unfulfilled.
When asked by an impatient student, how long would it take to become a master teacher; the Greek philosopher Epictetus replied:
Nothing comes into being all at once, not even the grape or the fig.
If you say to me now i want a fig,i shall answer that requires time.
Let the tree first bring forth tender blossoms, let the blossoms endure the weathering of the sun, wind and rain, let the tree put then forth it fruits, and finally let the fruits ripen.
Early Seasoning.
Early seasoning still exists in many places around the world. Less so in the developed nations, where schooling is obligatory. But, skills are still transmitted from father to son. In the developed world, the early seasoning is a bit more focused on the prestigious professions and sports. This can be called in a way mentor-ship, but i am calling it early seasoning because it does not have to be only associated with the mentor figure, it can as well be personal effort.
The difference between developing and developed countries, is that in the developing ones seasoning is seen as an assurance of job security, while in the developed it is seen as a prolongation of a legacy.
That is why the truly successful seek seasoning earl on, and focus early on on a specific domain and pursue it.
For example, it is rumored that Mark Zuckerberg built his first program at 12. While Elon Musk, was being taught by his father on all matters of engineering at around the same age.
A lot of exclusive, high quality professionals, have been seasoned since young age in their profession.
Early seasoning can also be financial and business education, this is true mostly for the upper class , or the 1% of society.
Seasoning, a way to be successful in any career.
Succeeding in any career, need seasoning, acquiring the knowledge and skills over a long period of time.
This process should be approached actively. Since the first steps you do towards a new career, you should set a plan of acquiring knowledge and skills actively.
This can be a multi-year plan that include internships, mentors, or even back to school style education.
Seasoning also works well when you immerse yourself in the theme you are focusing on. This can be done by regularly reading books, specialized magazines, blogs, or even watching movies and documentaries about the subject.
I take this next phrase from a book by Ray Clear:
Seasoning is a law of nature. All things take time to come to fruition. People in their impatience to get what they want without going this growing process, often end up stunting their own personal growth, and making true success impossible.
Impatient people want things to happen overnight. They are not willing to put the long term effort that is needed at the present, to have a better output in the future. Without putting the effort, time is just wasted, and you remain at the same starting block.
You can not learn seasoning as if it was a skill, seasoning is an attitude that must be adopted and made part of your mental framework.
Here i would advise to check the 3 important subjects that are related to seasoning:
Self discipline.
Procrastination.
Mentors.
Seasoning is working in the present for the future.
“We never keep to the present. We recall the past;… anticipate the future as if we found it too slow in coming and were trying to hurry it up, or we recall the past as if to stay its too rapid flight.We are so unwise that we wander about in times that do not belong to us, and do not think of the only one that does; so vain that we dream of time that are not and blindly flee the only one that is.
The fact is that the present usually hurts. We thrust it out of sight because it distresses us, and if we find it enjoyable, we are sorry to see it slip away.
We try to give it the support of the future, and think how we are going to arrange things over which we have no control for a time we can never be sure of reaching.
Let each of us examine his thoughts; he will find them wholly concerned with the past or the future. We almost never think of the present, and if we do think of it, it is only to see what light it throws on our plans for the future.
The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means, the future alone our end. Thus we never actually live, but hope to live, and since we always planning how to be happy, it is inevitable that we should never be so.”
Blaise Pascal
