Why Learning should be a never ending process? Why Mentorship is the key to truly great companies?
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a book on inspiration, learning and motivating others. But more than anything else this book is about finding a purpose, finding a motive and then dedicating your whole life to perfecting it. This book is also in a way about reaching the state of “Flow”, a perfect sync of your body and mind. In Richard Bach’s own words “A story celebrating the strength of the individual and the joy of finding your own way. If you wish to buy this book, please click here.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the story of a Seagull bird. The book explores how the bird is shaped by its environment and how it tries hard to break out of the mold.
The book is divided into 4 parts. The first part is about how he is stopped by his flock into learning, into excellence for learning and how he fights back and becomes an outcast. The second part is about how he comes in contact with 2 seagulls who take him to a school where he could further improve his flying schools and learn more about flight. The third part explores how Jon adopts the role of an instructor and guides a young gull to learn the tricks of flying followed by more of the flock. And finally the last part is about the learning that is slowly lost after the spirit of Jonathan leaves the flock and how dogma and rituals replace real practicing and learning.
- There is no limit for one who has touched excellence in his learning.
- There is much more to it than living
- We can find ourselves as creatures of excellence, intelligence and skill
- Finding a higher purpose in life, follow a meaning.
- People close their eyes to glory, to perfection living a life of mediocrity
- He learned to fly at speeds for which he was not sorry for the price he paid
- There is always something more to learn
- To touch perfection in which they most loved to do
- There is a such a thing as perfection and then further ahead there is a purpose for living to find that perfection and show it forth
- Heaven is being perfect. The moment you achieve perfection, you are in heaven
- Any number is a limit and perfection doesnt have limits
- Begin by knowing that you have already arrived
- The gull who scorn perfection for the sake of travel, go nowhere, slowly. Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere, instantly.
- Practice affirmation: I am Perfect, I am Unlimited.
- It always works when you know what you are doing.
- Never to stop learning and practicing
- Practice Kindness and Love
- Become a mentor to give something to somebody who would be standing to learn how to break the mold
- Freedom is the very nature of his being, whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form
- You have to practice to see the good in everybody. Thats what is the meaning of true love.
Following are my notes from the book:
Take Home
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an inspirational story of a Seagull that wants to learn flying not just to find fish. ‘Jon’ wants to achieve excellence in flying, hit speeds that were unheard of and basically enjoy doing different variations of it. Following is a slant of the book in my own way:
Dedicated to Learn
Jon is passionate about Learning. Passionate to find out what all is there for him to learn. Jon achieves a new vigor while flying and finds fulfillment in it.
Learning is for Lifetime. There is a never a time to stop learning. You could achieve so many degrees or attended many lectures or achieved much in life. But there is always a possibility to learn something new. If you are into Sales, Digital Marketing could be learnt. If you are into Programming, AI could be learned. When Learning Stops, Growth Stops.
Accepting to be an Outcast
Jon, in his pursuit for learning, became an outcast. He was not considered a part of the flock. But that was a risk he was willing to take. He had few choices. Either to satisfy his peers / family / society to become a clone. Or he could tread the uncharted path, not knowing what awaits him, but it could lead him to learning something new. He chose the latter.
This could be a by-product if you are challenging status quo. Society wants people who can fit their molds, not outliers. So if you are doing something that is different, you would be casted out. You would risk rejection from your society, your own family. But if you are willing to take that risk, you have to be prepared to be accepted as an outcast.
Achieving a Higher Purpose
Jon was not moved by a small term goal / motive. He did not wanted to learn a skill to catch a fish but he wanted to fly because he loved it. He was aiming for excellence. Jon was moved by higher purpose which was to test his own ability to fly, at speeds which other gulls in his flock only dreamt off.
Leaders around the world have made a dent in the universe because they were moved by a higher purpose. Mahatma Gandhi wanted to achieve complete freedom for his country, India. Martin Luther King wanted an equitable society where the rights of both black and white are protected. Steve Jobs wanted a Personal Computer in every home.
When I am after a higher purpose, all my other small goals of money, fame, happiness becomes immaterial. Achieving a higher purpose propels me do the best at whatever I love and make the most of my life.
Practicing Affirmation
Jon was guided by his instructor to break his perception of considering himself as a gull with a 12 feet wingspan. Also, he must let go off the number attached to a goal. Putting a number to a goal is limiting your potential. The instructor asked him to consider himself as a thought that is limitless and could travel anywhere.
I consider this as an example of affirmation. Affirmation is a powerful tool for success and I will be covering this topic in detail. I have been practicing affirmation for the last 1 year. Although I cannot suggest immediate results after practicing affirmation, what it really does is, it changes your mindset. I affirm that I am successful and that I am unlimited, I have set myself up for any challenge.
Practice Mentorship
After considerable practice, Jon was successful in practicing speed travel. He became restless in teaching the art of flying to anybody who was really interested in learning it. He wanted to look for another gull who was sincere and who was willing to be accepted as an outcast.
I could rest on my laurels after I have achieved my goal. But would that be the best use of my knowledge, skill or the learning that I have gathered over the period of years. My learning could become a starting point for somebody who is willing to take the mettle. As they say, the company is a perpetual entity. If it is built on the persona of a single person, it might not survive once the person goes. We can see this happening time and again with small businesses.
I have written in my earlier post while reviewing the book “The E Myth”, how small businesses should adopt systems in order to differentiate itself and survive.
Apple was built on the persona of Steve Jobs but Tim Cook has tripled its revenues after Steve left. Back home, Reliance was built by Dhirubhai Ambani but Mukesh (his son) grew it from a USD 15 billion company in 2002 to a USD 92 billion company in 2020.
So until and unless we dont practice mentorship, our businesses will not survive the competition and we must pass on our learning, knowledge to somebody who has proven his worth.
End Note
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a must buy book for anybody who wants to learn about finding a purpose in life. It is a book of hope, inspiration and looking beyond the ordinary. I thoroughly enjoyed and go back to it whenever I wish to gain clarity in my mind, or remove the cobwebs of doubts that develop whenever I am not doing well. It has helped me a lot and I am sure it will stand with you in good stead. If you are interested in buying this book, please click here.
“Life with a Purpose is a blessing”
~ RG ~
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