On the Beach of Learning

Essential thoughts, discoveries, and treasures most of us miss lay on the beach of
learning.

We walk right by them, mesmerized by oceans and pretty bodies stretched out on
beach towels, never realizing gems of knowledge are so close, so very close.

The worst I’ve seen happens to all of us: Expecting an opportunity to come to
the door and, as the saying goes, knock. Rarely, if ever, does it knock. A rare bird
in itself, opportunity taps and taps lightly like a light breeze briefly brushing your
neck. If only opportunity had grasped me around the neck and strangled me until I
listened, really listened. But it does not present itself that way.

A good friend now finding plenty to do in the Heavens Above taught me what
you look for in success: maniacs. No, not crazies, blathering expletives on the street,
but those who push their ideas with deep purpose and passion. A one-track mind
doesn’t do it, either. A successful maniac incorporates their vision into differing
landscapes like drama, engineering, creativity, health, and so on.

Walter Isaacson authors books on creative heroes in the past, like Leonardo Da
Vinci, and present, such as Steve Jobs and now Elon Musk. They all have
monumental landscapes going any number of different ways.

Leonardo Da Vinci, best known for his “Mona Lisa” work, also strived in
science, engineering, and innovation. He found ways to connect them all by doing
what he intuitively knew: keep diving into the mysterious.

The other ingredient that my good friend preached was “the mission.” What you
look for, then, maniacs on a mission—those with drive and intention.

Dr. Jeff Kildahl, an example of a maniac on a mission launching Performance Medicine™
and Synergy™ Magazine wrote this Foreword to my observation of these maniacs, which
I titled “The Eclectic 18: Maniacs on a Mission.”

“The line delineating authenticity from existence is invisible. Few people
impart the requisite courage to live life on their terms. Enter ‘The Electic 18.’

Growth has no end point. Your catalyst to an unparalleled breadth of experiences is risk.
Unbridled passion transforms obstacles into opportunities; problems into solutions.”

In this light, we discussed Sam Peckinpah’s movie “Ride the High Country” (1962),
where a cowboy wants to earn entry into his house and, in a way, his life. The line
goes, “All I want is to enter my house justified.” Plenty of successes result from massive
failures, but to justify yourself, one must try.