Why it is Impossible to Force Your Way into Excellence

Excellence is something we relax into. It’s counter-intuitive but it works. We think it’s up to us, but it’s not. It’s our response to being touched by Beauty.

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The first time I heard this strange idea was in a movie called “First Knight.” Lancelot was explaining to a young man how he did all his stunning sword fight tricks. The young man confirmed time and time again: “Yes, I can do that” until he suddenly got dumbfounded by Lancelot’s remark: “And you have to not care whether you live or die.”

Th…