Harper has no easy answer to the challenge that raises, but it has helped him learn an important lesson. Tiger Woods says his goal is to strive to remain patient. His sense is that patience allows him to get in touch with his rhythms and natural capacities. One of the first things voice teachers tell their students is that they have to let go, that if they try to force their voice to do things, it simply won't work, Harper notes. That takes patience.
Creativity is a lot like that.
It happens on its own terms. You can't manage it, and you can't make it jump through hoops. Staying patient is the most important lesson I've learned, and doing a lot of different things in my life has made it an easier lesson to learn. Michael J. McDermott is a Carmel, N.Y.-based freelance writer specializing in business, technology, and finance.