I first heard of art historian Sarah Lewis through her TED Talk “Pursuit of Mastery.” Her CAT that day was (cause the audience to) embrace the near-win. That phrase strongly resonated with me and made me remember my first trophy–my only trophy–in a lifetime of near-wins.

Lewis pointed out that success is just “an event, a moment in time and a label that the world confers upon you”  . . . what we continue to celebrate is creativity and mastery,  “pursuing a kind of excellence in obscurity.” Mastery is not the same as excellence or success. It is not a commitment to a goal but a constant pursuit.

I was so struck by that eleven minute talk that I got some chalk and wrote mastery: excellence in obscurity on my desk (made from a reclaimed church door with chalkboard paint panels on the desktop).

Next I went digging around for that old softball trophy and placed it right where my eye will catch it everyday.  I went on to read Lewis’ book The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery, which impresses the importance of grit and creative practice. The near-win, she writes, changes our focus to consider how we plan to attain what lies in our sights but out of reach. Failure is not the outcome but the refused attempt.

                                                        Elaine Everett 1968 “Most Improved Player”

“All those who do more than compete, who strive for mastery, play on a field that exists largely within.” Sarah Lewis

[April 21, 2014 Ted Talk, https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_lewis_embrace_the_near_win?language=en]