Intensity Vs. Extensity; Identifying What Works For You

NAPOLEON Bonaparte, one of history's greatest generals, is remembered for his discipline and unparalleled courage. His most invaluable strengths were a very high level of grit, focus and intensity of purpose. He is famously known for saying, "Intellect is a magnitude of intensity rather than extensity".  

That strategic mindset may have served him very well. But my question is this, does everyone function this way? Do we all require 101% tunnel vision on every task to become the best our potential permits?

On the other hand, some of us just can't focus on one task for more than an hour. We prefer to multitask, know a little bit about everything and dip our little fingers in as many pieces of cake as possible. Of course, there's nothing bad in that... As long as we always wash our hands after right?

Bottom line, we're all unique and despite our all so similar human characteristics and limitations, there are  some rules that just don't work for everyone. 

I grew up with the old school rule book for success. I was taught to spending long, arduous hours reading books and rote memorizing pages upon pages of scripts. I reckon a lot has changed over the last two decades and kids of today have the opportunity to learn through a diverse array of mediums. 

This is the age of the ipads, laptops, Blackberrys, web 2.0, cloud computing, online degrees... I could go on but I think you get the point. There's so much cool stuff out there and it takes quite a lot of effort to focus on one thing and develop the discipline to consistently ignore everything else.

In Paulo Coelho's literary masterpiece, The Alchemist, he shares a short story that I believe sheds more light on how to maximize our effort and get results without turning into a zombie; 

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A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.

However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.

The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

With considerable patience, the Sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.

He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours’ time.

“However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, handling the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”

The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.

“So,” asked the sage, “did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“So, go back and see the wonders of my world,” said the wise man. “You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.”

Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.

“But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?” asked the sage.

Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.

“Well, that is the only advice I have to give you,” said the sage of sages. “The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.”       

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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In essence, we must learn to balance our ability to employ intensity and extensity of our intellect, as the situation permits, in order to get the best out of life and teach others to do the same.

Photo Courtesy:
http://futuretick.com/Lenovo-cell-phones/wallpapers-mobiles-phones/Genious-brain-Free-Wallpaper-Download-for-mobile-phone-cellphone-360-x-640-Resolution-Nokia-Samsun-4719

http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/10/paul-coelho-author-of-the-alchemist-a-graphic-novel-on-tour-novemberdecember-2010/