A foundation for kraft is a love for the work that you do.  This passion generates drive and accomplishment:

  • It becomes the measure of your devotions, the strength behind your intentions.  
  • The driving force of your commitment to improve your service to serve others, and in turn, success for yourself.  
  • It is the steel rod of resolve down the back of every student who has the discipline to do their work. Every day. Days into weeks, weeks into months, years into careers.

I infuse kraft with specific meaning helpful to those developing mastery and elite performance.  My definition:

 

kraft is an artistic use of the Danish word for force or strength.  It is the power in each of us that drives us to do more, be more and contribute more.

It’s kraft that has driven the evolution of civilizations, the creation of symphonies and the development of artificial intelligence. It is echoed in the writings of thought leaders and imbedded in the great philosophies of the world.  Always encouraging us to become better.

 

Wikipedia, definition of “Arete”:

Arete to the Stoic philosophers was the idea of excellence, the fulfillment of purpose or function: “the act of living up to one’s full potential.”

Marcus Aurelius, Stoic philosopher and Emperor of Rome:

Everything – a horse, a vine – is created for some duty… For what task, then, were you yourself created?  A man’s true delight is to do the things he was made for.

Abraham Moslow, the modern humanistic psychologist who developed the hierarchy of needs and father of positive psychology:

Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write…. What human beings can be, they must be. They must be true to their own nature. This need we may call self-actualization.

Robert Greene, author of Mastery:

The first move toward mastery is always inward—learning who you really are and reconnecting with that innate force. Knowing it with clarity, you will find your way to the proper career path and everything else will fall into place. It is never too late to start this process.

Seth Godin, marketing mastermind:

Each of us can work to become the person we seek to be. A better version of the person we are right now. Doing work we’re proud of for people we care about.

Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art:

When we’re living as amateurs, we’re running away from our calling—meaning our work, our destiny, the obligation to become our truest and highest selves.

Victor Frankl, Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, author of Man’s Search for Meaning:

Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life… Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated.  

The Buddha, or “enlighten one”:  

Your work is to discover your work and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.

How much do you love what you do?  How driven are you to becoming the best version of yourself? Now is the time to unleash the power of kraft in your life.

 

Call to Craftsmanship:  What could kraft drive you to do?

-Craig   www.kraftworx.com