Motivated by the Craft
I have been reading self help books for over 20 years. I do not actually like the term because to me it implies that something is wrong and needs fixing. I am not interested in fixing myself but rather improving. I just want to know how high performers manage to do that extra thing that makes them great, whether it is in finance, business, fitness, athletics, or general wellbeing.
Many of these books do have useful information. Others are merely motivational, promising that if I stay focused all my dreams will come true. That is true to a point. But what about those who provide motivation and inspiration simply by telling the story of how they ground through their own pursuit of perfection?
I recently read two books that did exactly that. Part autobiographical, part informational, both containing hidden clues about performing at your best.
By Alex Stone
Note: Paperback cover shown
Stone falls into the world of competitive magic and discovers a subculture of people who dedicate their entire lives to perfecting a single sleight of hand. Nobody needed a motivational speaker. The motivation came from the work itself.
AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies
By Derek Delgaudio
Part memoir, part philosophy. The story of a man who pursued mastery of deception at a level most people cannot comprehend. It is one of the most quietly profound books I have read in years.
DelGaudio took everything in AMORALMAN and put it on a stage. This one-man show ran off-Broadway for over 500 performances and was later filmed for Hulu and YouTube. It is unlike anything you have seen before.
The trailer is below. If it catches you, the full show is worth every minute.
In and Of Itself - Derek Delgaudio
Here is what struck me across all three. None of these people needed a five step framework or a morning routine checklist. They were motivated by caring so deeply about getting something right that they could not stop until it was.
That is the kind of professional development that does not show up on a resume but shows up everywhere else.
What are you dedicated to?
This piece first ran in The Edge, my newsletter for law enforcement professionals. Subscribers get it first.
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