… and the software engineer, and the therapist, and the playwright….
Note: Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission, at no extra charge to you, if you make a purchase through such a link. Learn more here.
Notes
When a locksmith, software engineer, therapist, or playwright try things out, it’s not personal if something doesn’t work. That is part of the process; it’s collected data. It’s grounded in a desire to help.
If the recipient is changed, then the art is generous. If not, then we have the opportunity to make it better.
“The practice is agnostic about the outcome. The practice remains, regardless of the outcome.”
Thoughts
This is another way of saying that the practice is a process in which we create something that might not work. And since it takes failure into account, then failure is not “fraught,” not a “referendum” on ourselves. It’s information that we can use to adapt and improve.
This is similar to what I say to my students about the writing process. It’s distressing to find that I don’t practice what I preach. I know better. I even understand what’s going on. And yet I’m still spending time searching for a perfect practice (at least, so I must presume, given my lack of progress on this front.)
This series is meant to capture my thoughts as I work through Seth Godin’s The Practice. It’s a book with over 200 (very short) chapters, which I hope to work through and, I further hope, to implement over time.
If you’re interested in more of Godin’s ideas, or my thoughts about them, you can check out this collection of posts. Note that if you’re more interested in the former, you should probably get Godin’s book and read it yourself; my notes will be both incomplete and idiosyncratic, and my thoughts will relate to my own experience.
But if my thoughts resonate with you, or if you think I’m just silly, I welcome your comments.