Power of Imitation
The Sunday Feed
I was casually scrolling through FB and I cam across a beautiful picture. It might be subject to copyright so I cannot depict it here.
It is a photo of a young mother sitting in train reading a book. What makes it interesting though is she has a baby sitting in her lap who is also reading a book.
The caption goes to ask a question as to how you managed to convince your child to read a book instead of playing a video game. To which the mother replies that the answer is very simple. Children do not listen, they copy us!
Most of us might have left our childhood way behind but there is a lesson to be learnt. We all have skills we have not perfected yet and to improve those we can imitate the mothers in the field, the experts.
Here are 5 things that would make it to the top of my list. You can make yours.
1. How to start the day successfully
While I belong to the cohort of people who prefer to work late at night thereby pushing the waking hours significantly, I have found that a common trait in most successful people is that they get up before everybody does.
I believe a person can work anytime during the day, but I will have no qualms in admitting that whenever I start the day early, I accomplish more than usual. I think one reason could be that my mind is free of the guilt that I missed a few hours in the morning.
2. Learning a new skill
My music teacher told me that if you really want to get better at playing guitar, you should copy me for at least the first 3 years. Once you have developed the advanced skill in playing the music, you can then go on to create your own style.
The core idea being that he was telling me to imitate him for 3 years at least. The reason is that a lot of people want to develop their own style very early in the process. When they do this, they pick up wrong techniques which become very difficult to unlearn.
3. The fine art of walking
A lot of people still do not understand that money buys you clothes and accessories, but style comes from attitude.
I have seen a lot of people adorn themselves with the most expensive brands and when they walk, they look completely awful because the style is just not there. Whereas there are some people who are dressed in the most common clothes but walk with a swag.
Not everyone is a natural but there is nothing that cannot be learnt. If you look at some of the best actors who walk slowly and imitate them for a week, you can imbibe some style. Imitating “Brad Pitt or Daniel Craig” would not be a bad start.
4. Body Language
I often wonder why history as a subject is given more importance in schools as compared to teaching “Body Language.” Well, history is important but how many really want to pursue it as a career and become historians.
Our TV programs such as “Suits” are the best classroom for many to watch and learn. I guess the smart ones would be doing that secretly, it is the ones that lack the skills I am worried about.
I will never believe anyone who says that the decision in an interview or a meeting is not made in the first 3 seconds.
5. Literature
It is sad to see that an average adult today has no clue about the various works of literature that was produced in the medieval and renaissance era. A section of enlightenment that goes completely ignored.
I just fail to understand how so many people cannot see that there is a language beyond emojis and acronyms. Literature is pretty much like the teaching of my guitar teacher.
You first need to read at least 100 good works of literature, understand it thoroughly and then you can develop your own style of writing.
I might have missed the opportunity to make a good Christmas cake by imitating the pastry chefs, but I will start immediately. And after a few learners, I guess I will be ready for Easter.
Merry Christmas!
John Khalkho: CEO — Dolores Education.