Mastery in Motion: The Power of Lifelong Learning

Recently, I stumbled upon the podcast Tetragrammaton, hosted by Rick Rubin, and one episode in particular caught my attention: a conversation with Robert Downey Jr.

Rick Rubin takes me back. In my teens, I was immersed in Def Jam Recordings, the company co-founded by Rick and Russell Simmons. They helped popularise hip hop with acts like The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, and Run DMC—all of whom I loved. One of my biggest regrets is not seeing the Beastie Boys and Run DMC at the Birmingham Odeon. I was perhaps a bit too young, especially as at the time they were notorious for smashing up hotel rooms and vandalizing VW cars.

Anyway, I digress.

Right from the off, Robert Downey Jr. delved into his 40-year commitment to Ip Man, Wing Chun, a from of martial arts Kung Fu. Ip Man had several students who themselves became martial arts masters, the most famous of them being Bruce Lee. It is a form of movement that we saw Robert showcase in part, in his Sherlock Holmes movies, where he used some of the manoeuvres which include slapping and defensive movements to distract their opponent to shift their own defenses and centreline. Robert spoke about how dedicating himself to a lifelong journey of learning brought richness and comfort to his life.

He made a point that made me think: “People would rather work at five companies over three years than one company for three or five years.”, whilst I don't think this has been the case for many of today's leaders, it is certainly something that according to recent studies may be more frequent for millennials and Gen Z, who are likely to switch jobs more frequently, often driven by the desire for better opportunities and personal growth. If job-hopping is becoming more common, or even encouraged, there's something to be said about the depth of experience and mastery that comes from a longer-term commitment, perhaps it does not need to be with the same employer, but without a longer term vision or goal, will the experience be as valuable?

Robert committed to a lifelong apprenticeship with Eric Oram, who trained under William Cheung—the grandmaster of the Traditional Wing Chun lineage and a disciple of Ip Man. This, for Robert at least, wasn't just about mastering a martial art; it's about embracing the role of a perpetual student, always open to learning and growth, which, considering Robert's own past, with difficulties including addiction and some serious stints in both county jail and state prison seems to have bought him to a much stronger place.

He also emphasised the importance of humility in the learning process: “You must be willing to check your ego quickly because you gotta get the job done. And if you don’t know something, you gotta figure out how to do it. And if someone’s doing it, it doesn’t matter how it looks, just ask them.” This struck me as a valuable lesson, not just in martial arts, or acting, but in any profession and aspect of life.

We all too often think that we are expected to have all the answers. One of the things I hear most from the Senior Executives and C-suite individuals I speak with, particularly the ones who are usually most successful, is about hiring those who are smarter than they are, or, being super curious, when they don't know, they ask and take the opportunity to learn from others.

“You must be willing to check your ego quickly because you gotta get the job done. And if you don’t know something, you gotta figure out how to do it. And if someone’s doing it, it doesn’t matter how it looks, just ask them.” – Robert Downey Jr.

Another insight he shared was, “You must always get out of the way, because the minute I am closed to counsel, the minute I have contempt prior to investigation, the minute I’ve decided that I’m not necessarily as teachable as people would like me to be, I’m f****d.” It's a candid reminder of the dangers of becoming unteachable due to ego or preconceived notions, regardless of age or success, something that has clearly worked for Robert, now 59, who said that at this point he could have some of his most valuable lessons. In his work on Oppenheimer where he won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, he has spoken about this experience, which was nothing like many of those before, he said of working with Christopher Nolan that he realised "what you say is so much less important than how you say it", important learnings even after a career of almost 40 years in Hollywood films.

“You must always get out of the way, because the minute I am closed to counsel, the minute I have contempt prior to investigation, the minute I’ve decided that I’m not necessarily as teachable as people would like me to be. I’m f****d.” – Robert Downey Jr.

Listening to Robert discuss his journey reminded me of the impact that a lifelong commitment to learning can have. It's not just about accumulating knowledge or skills, but about the opportunities that arise when you dedicate yourself fully to something. The depth of understanding, the relationships forged, and the personal growth experienced—all of these are rewards that only come with time and dedication.

“Happiness as a goal is rough. Happiness is a byproduct of right action, I love it.” – Robert Downey Jr.

In the world today, it's easy to get caught up in the chase for the next big thing, the likes, the spotlight. But perhaps there's immense value in slowing down, digging deep, and committing ourselves to a path of continuous learning and improvement. Whether it's in our careers, personal hobbies, or relationships, embracing the role of a lifelong apprentice and mastery might just be the key to unlocking richer, more fulfilling experiences.

Staying teachable, curious, and humble is what allows new opportunities to flow—an openness that invites growth and it's the journey is where the real magic happens.

What do you think? Please do drop me a note with your thoughts or of course in the comments.

I help CEOs, COOs, HRDs and business leaders improve the diversity, success and retention of their new leadership hires across Customer, CX, Operations, Transformation, AI, Insight and Planning, providing recruitment consultancy and Executive Search services. Helping you deliver a much improved performance and ROI. If you would like to talk more about your unique challenges and to see if I might be a future resource for you, Book a call today.