As he sat at the side of bed, watching out moonlight showered window, he was immersed in the beauty of a theory that unifies the universe. One single law, the law of gravity, explains not only what happens on the earth, but how planets and stars interact with each other. The power of intellectual thinking of human beings is manifested in Newton’s theory. We are animals with medium height and small built. We roam around the earth to search for food and shelter. Yet, our intellectual capacity allows us to see beyond the earth.
The penetrating intellectual power of Newton comes from his focus, exclusive of anything else. In such deep concentration, he is able to create beautiful theories that revolutionize the field of physics and mathematics. He was so devoted to his study that he had no time for drinking, playing or dating women. Could we have such luxury or should we create a life that allows us absolute concentration? It is totally possible. If we simply buy things without worrying about price, selecting phone companies without price comparison, or getting a larger apartment or house without worrying about squeeze some space. The wealthier we are, the less daily worry we have, and the more time we have for intellectual creation. On the other hand, we can also live a simple life, throwing away most of our belongings, put aside any social responsibility, and live a very simple lifestyle so that we can devote to thinking.
Newton said his achievement was made through “spending a long time thinking about one problem”. This is the secret of success in any field and on any subject. Anthony Robbins kept thinking about how to achieve peak performance. Martin Luther King was thinking about how to acquire equal rights for black people. Henry Ford focused on building better cars. Tiger Woods keeps thinking about how to make the best shot in golf. In other words, if we are obsessed with a problem and spend a long time (sometimes our lifetime) thinking about solutions, we will achieve good results. Our results can then benefit the society. This is the power of specialization.
