What the Transporter needed to learn to achieve his complete potential.

Years ago I remember reading an article about Jason Statham in a fitness magazine. The point of the article was about self-discipline. Coming from a former Olympic diver, who has had to use self-discipline to get where he had already gotten, it was a pretty authentic article. I remember vividly a quote in the article that went something like this, “if you have to have a trainer to motivate you and ensure you get a good workout, you might as well quit.”

Fast forward a couple of years, same fitness magazine, another article about Jason Statham...this time, to get in prime condition for a role, he had enrolled with a trainer, and was talking about how he was pushed further and harder than he had ever been in his life. His physique showed the difference as well.

This isn't about disproving the need for self-discipline, to the contrary, realizing that self-discipline is incredibly important it is acknowledging another factor necessary for great achievement, accountability. You may be saying that accountability and self-discipline are very related, you would be right. What world class athletes have learned is that the outside accountability of a coach really helps them achieve their full potential.

In the martial arts world, this accountability typically comes from a teacher or coach. Often though, the demands of time and our work life take us from our teacher, or at least regular face to face contact with them. Unless we actively set something up to maintain a relationship of accountability with our teacher, often times we are left with our self-discipline as our only guide.

I am reminded of a story I heard and is written in Paul Gallagher’s book, Drawing Silk. The story is of one master visiting another master, both had students in attendance. Before the visit was over, the one master did some Taiji and asked for corrections from the other master. Some of his students were surprised by this. His answer was simple, even a master could benefit from corrections.

Of course, there are also many other reasons why you might find yourself without a teacher/student relationship. Our recommendation for those of us striving towards mastery, is to either find a new teacher, or at least a mentor that can provide us with the relationship of accountability. If nothing else seems to work, form a peer group to accomplish the task.

Accountability is too important to neglect, and is a piece of the overall betterment that mastery requires.

Rich on Google+