Have you ever watched a master? One who has reached a level of proficiency at their activity that the true difficulty of their work, sport or art is completely hidden in the simplicity of their motion? A sculptor releases the image hidden in the stone, the ballet dancer soars with grace and beauty in lifts and jumps and a rower flows like the water they are moving across, in all, the complexity of their activity belies their simplicity in motion.

While I am fascinated by sculpture and enjoy watching dance, my passion is in rowing. Starting after I finished University I have rowed now for over 25 years, but interestingly it is only in the last two years that the quality (technique) and power of my craft has increased substantially. What has been fascinating is, that it has developed it in ways that were not at first obvious; but with awareness of the growth process and reflection, I see the jumps up the curve.

For a large part of the past 18 months, I have deliberately focused on technique not worrying about power saying to myself the power will come. (Though I constantly said this to myself, I am not sure that I really believed it.)

It is only now in the past few months that I have found myself ready to “drop the power penny”, and this addition of power in the drive now feels completely natural. Nothing forced, and I am seeing results that only a short while ago I would have dreamed about but been frustrated if I had intentionally reached for them.

The other realization that has come with this insight is, that I have only been able to achieve these gains through the gifts of others. I now see all the people who have been willing to give their time to help me to become a better rower. And they have not been few. They all gave their time and knowledge willingly, and now, after the help from all these people, I feel that I am approaching a first level of mastery of my sport. This is not perfection, but real improvement. I know this road never ends, and that I will need friends and coaches to maintain this level. But this is the wonderful thing about it, now I can give back what I have received and learned, and through that continue on my own growth goals.

This is a key to growth, to willingly, happily give things away. In giving we grow not only the other but ourselves as well.

My experience rowing should not restricted to sporting activities, it really must be an integral part of all our professional existence as well. As you look back along along your path, who has helped (or is helping) you? We never achieve growth or change without the help of many others. Identifying and acknowledging these people is important step upon your own personal growth journey.

Who are you helping?