One of my missions is to share lessons I learned during my time as a monk.
Lessons about purpose, discipline, and the invisible work required to build a meaningful life.
While I was living in the monastery, I learned that in a world obsessed with quick wins and overnight success, we rarely pause to appreciate the effort and time put into the repetition, sacrifices, and effort that shape excellence.
In other words, we admire the result, but we don’t always see the process.
In my book Think Like a Monk, I tell a story that I want to share with you here:
As the tale goes, a woman sees Picasso in a market.
She goes up to him and says, “Would you mind drawing something for me?”
“Sure,” he says, and thirty seconds later hands her a remarkably beautiful little sketch. “That will be thirty thousand dollars,” he says.
“But Mr. Picasso,” the woman says, “how can you charge me so much? This drawing only took you thirty seconds!”
“Madame,” says Picasso, “it took me thirty years.”
The same is true of any artistic work—or, indeed, any job that’s done well. The effort behind it is invisible.
Every hour, every failure, every lesson, every late night… these invisible moments that make up the majority of mastery are also the moments the outside world rarely sees.
If you are committed to making art in whatever capacity you feel called, whether that’s writing, building a business, raising children, leading a team, creating content, coaching others, serving your community, or simply becoming a better version of yourself, remember this:
The art you’re making isn’t just the finished product.
The art is the discipline.
The art is the practice.
The art is the becoming.
What happens behind the scenes, quietly, patiently, and over time, gives your work meaning.
So if it’s your mission to create something meaningful, embrace the time it takes to grow into your mastery.
One day, someone will look at what you have created and think it only took thirty seconds.
You will know that your art took a lifetime.
And that will make it all the more meaningful.
With love,
Jay
How do you feel about “invisible” effort?
Today’s Wiser Choice
Try This: Take a moment to reflect on something you’re building or becoming right now.
It could be your career, health, relationships, character.
Ask yourself:
What is one invisible effort I’ve made that no one sees?
Example: early mornings, hard conversations, consistency, money
What skill, quality, or strength am I quietly developing through this process?
Finish this sentence: “The art I am creating right now is ______.”
Now place your hand on your heart and acknowledge this truth: the work behind the scenes is sometimes the most meaningful.
Even if no one applauds it.
