Polished crap
By Rajesh Setty on Sat 09 Jan 2010, 12:10 AM – 4 Comments
Michelangelo said it right – “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
And how does the sculptor discover it?
Simply by removing all the unwanted stone surrounding the statue.
Is this easy? No.
Is this painless for the stone? No.
Is this foolproof? No.
But if you want to discover the statute inside the stone, it’s got to be done. No other option.
If, on the other hand, you want to be nice to the stone and decide that you will simply use a good cloth and start polishing it, what will you get?
Polished crap.
Not a statue but polished crap.
It is the same case with you. There is a beautiful statue inside of you. You just need to remove the unwanted stuff that is preventing that statue to come out. The unwanted stuff can be as simple as “unproductive habits” that is stopping you from getting to where you want to go.
For starters, the “feedback” from the market and the people who care for you is what will remove the unwanted stuff. But, only if you take it seriously and do something about that feedback. If you are defensive and not listen to the feedback, you may never discover that beautiful statue.
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4 Comments so far, Add Yours
Rajesh Setty on January 9th, 2010
Dave,
Most people (definitely not you, I have read your work) are unaware of the polished crap in various parts of their life. They think they are just fine.
They get to know when someone they trust and respect brings this to their foreground.
Every now and then in my meetings with my mentors, I discover polished crap and vow to clean that up.
If you know about polished crap but are emotionally attached to it, it is something you are doing by choice. May be you have a “payoff” that you are getting by sticking to it. The only thing to do next is to see what is the “cost” for that payoff. If it is justifiable, nothing to worry 
Best
Rajesh
Promise Phelon on January 13th, 2010
Great points and you always draw unique conclusions from such things. I’d pile-on and say that to get to be a refined and beautiful sculpture, you gotta make a choice. One can’t be a thinking man, a beast or a column. Whatever it is (business, job-seeking, and mate-finding), we all need to set out with a clear vision that it’s NOT muddled by INDECISION.
Rajesh Setty on January 14th, 2010
Thanks for the comments Promise.
Yes indecision is bad. On a lighter note, there is never a case of “indecision” – either there is a decision or a “decision to not decide.”
Have a great evening.
Best,
Rajesh
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Dave Doolin on January 9th, 2010
What if we’re emotionally attached to the polished crap?
Only partly in jest.