Excellence

A perspective to Excellence...

The traditional phases of learning are:
Unconscious Incompetence => Conscious Incompetence => Conscious Competence => Unconscious Competence

The best way to understand the above is to think back of days learning to ride a bicycle.

1. When you saw people ride a bicycle, you always wondered how they balanced on two wheels & steered it successfully. This is "Unconscious Incompetence" - you do not know what skills you need.
2. As you start learning, you get an understanding of skills needed to ride a bike. This is "Conscious Incompetence" - you know the skills you need, however, you do have the skills yet and are learning them.
3. As your learn, you get the comfort of riding a bicycle without external help. This is "Conscious Competence" - you are aware that you have skills to ride a bicycle. You are still focused & pay attention to riding the bicycle.
4. With practice, riding a bicycle comes naturally to you. This is "Unconscious Competence" - you do not so much bother about how to ride the bicycle. On the contrary, you are focused on other aspects you want to achieve after the ride.

Beyond this, is "Transcendental Competence" - the highest level of excellence. 

The following dialogue from the movie "Enter The Dragon" aptly explains this concept:
Shaolin Master: I see your talents have gone beyond the mere physical level. Your skills are now at a point of spiritual insight. What is the highest technique you hope to achieve?
Bruce Lee: To have no technique.

It becomes just a flow; a rhythm; a happening. You become a witness unto yourself. The doer in you is suspended. You know its happening through you.

The processor merges into the process. Dance has filled the dancer; the music has possessed the musician; running has taken over the runner; the message and the messenger merge; the seeker becomes the sought.

[Some of the excerpts are from Frozen Thoughts magazine]