Because I have published a few papers, a few people have asked me how to become a great scholar.
I replied that I was not yet a great scholar. I am a journeyman. I say that without guile or false modesty. I feel like my journey is just half over. I have a lot to learn.
I thought about those conversations today as I watched a master pastaiolo make tortellini.
As he cut pasta, filled it, & finished it with a twist, I caught myself thinking that he was a true master - making something so difficult look so simple.
As I ate the fresh tortellini, I thought about what I observed & what makes a great scholar.
First, what I watched looked effortless.
It was clear that he'd taken years to learn how to work with the pasta, to cut it, fill it, & finish it with a twist.
To be great, you need to make the complex look simple.
I know of only a few scholars who make research look simple & effortless.
Second, what I watched required tremendous skill.
The pasta maker had invested years in learning to master the process.
While some authors are quick to publish in their careers, there are very few great scholars because they take time to learn the process of crafting & communicating ideas.
Third, what I saw required repetition.
The pasta maker could make dozens of stuffed tortellini in minutes because he had done it many times.
While lighting might strike quickly, great scholars work & rework, then submit & resubmit papers until they master the skills needed to tell stories.
Fourth, what I saw demanded multiple skills.
The pasta maker made the dough, cut it, placed filling, pinched the pasta & more. He also supervised others doing so.
Great scholars master multiple competencies & help others learn them as well.
Fifth, what I saw was measured.
The pasta maker didn't rush.
Great scholars don't rush papers to market; they take time to do their work well.
Sixth, what I saw required effort.
The pasta maker looked exhausted by early afternoon the second time I walked by his shop.
While great scholars may make it look effortless, they expend tremendous energy on their research - sometimes looking exhausted after just a few hours of thought.
Seventh, what I saw takes persistence.
The pasta maker clearly had tried & tried again until the tortellini danced from his fingers.
Great scholars suffer from many failures before their ideas are generally accepted & widely read.
While equating making great pasta to scholarship might be controversial, the competencies required to become great are likely very similar. They do not come easily, everyone can not master them, & they require persistence.
Me? I'm a journeyman.
While I may have published a few papers, I'm still mastering the skills required to be a great scholar. I'm working hard on my writing, still learning to think abstractly & still need to craft that signature paper.
With a bit of luck, I might be great someday.
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