A Simple Success Lesson From a Genius

by Kritika Singh

Here's some unexpectedly good advice from the greatest composer who ever lived.

"Music is the only thing I do well. Everything else I do badly, stupidly, or both."

This pithy insight is from Ludwig von Beethoven.

I call this "unexpected" because Beethoven, by his own admission, expressed himself in music and spent a lifetime stumbling over words. In his finer moments, he was all too aware of his faults, frailties, and shortcomings.

Yet, Beethoven's point rings true and implies this useful gem of wisdom.

If you do something well, keep doing it. Make that your specialty.

If you do something "badly, stupidly, or both" either don't do it or get someone else to do it.

At least, learn to lessen the "badness, stupidity, or both."

This makes perfect sense. Yet, we don't always do it.

I've observed that those who focus on what they do well and delegate, pass off, or minimize what they do poorly end up with the biggest success instead of the biggest headaches.

So I've devised a simple test that will empower you to focus on your strengths and minimize the time spent in "badness, stupidity, or both."

As you approach a task, how what do you feel?

Do you have sense of lightness? Is there a song in your heart? Do you embrace the moment with anticipation?

Or do you take a dim view of this task? Do you hear an internal groan? Does it seem out of step with the rest of you?

Depending on your answer, you can make an accurate estimation whether you will perform this task "well" or "badly, stupidly, or both."

Therefore, endeavor to do more of the tasks you do "well" and fewer of the tasks you do "badly, stupidly, or both."

Pretty simple, isn't it?

Fortunately, mere mortals can see this point more easily than a genius and act accordingly.

Admittedly, Beethoven is an extreme example of his own insight.

No one before or since ever wrote such music! Arguably, no one else of such genius ever did so many other things as "badly, stupidly, or both."

So even if you are not a classical music fan, hear Beethoven on this point.

Do more of the things you do well.