Field Notes: XIV

The Hemingway Principle

A Line to Live By

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”

— Muhammad Al

i

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Field Insight: The Hemingway Principle

In Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, there is a great exchange between Mike Campbell and Bill Gorton:

“How did you go bankrupt?”

“Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”

While the main sentiment of the interaction may be one of comedy and irony, it contains a lot of truth. For many things in life, from love to the fall of civilizations, occur in this fashion.

It is hugely beneficial to learn how this sequence applies to the effort we expend and the results we achieve. So many stories of great success contain a point at which things finally clicked, the tide changed, the dam broke, the corner was turned. All examples of the shift from gradually to suddenly.

During the climb, we often want effort to correlate linearly with results. It can be frustrating to put in work and not see change right away. It causes doubt, stress, anxiety, along with a whole host of other negative emotions.

We can avoid unnecessary friction when we trust the sequence, or Hemingway Principle. It requires a few key things, including faith in yourself and your work ethic, along with a little bit of trust that the universe will look out for you.

Effort expended without trust in the sequence quickly materializes as the try hard, the annoying sales guy, or the helicopter parent. Belief in the Hemingway Principle manifests as Mohammad Ali, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Matthew McConaughey. Accomplished, trusting, yet effortless.

The truth is, effort itself is not attractive. It’s messy, forced, and awkward. Whether it’s in the gym, in relationships, or in business.

It’s tempting to show everyone your effort, so as to show the universe how deserving you are of whatever you’re after. But it doesn’t work. Effort is most effective behind closed doors, in the wee hours of the night, in a silence that not even thunder could shake.

Don’t be afraid to give effort without seeing immediate results. If your intention is genuine and your work ethic is true, the results will arrive.

You need the fitness before the physique will come. You need the character before you get the girl. You need the skills before you get the job. Reality rejects posers.

Imagine a guy who everybody knows works his ass off, he gets results, but he still never believes in his success. He is admirable, but he’s not necessarily attractive. Then imagine there’s the guy that people think is on steroids or inherited money or is just a straight up alchemist. The guy that leaves everybody wondering how he does it when he never seems to be worried or stressed.

Those two archetypes can be separated by a simple belief in the Hemingway Principle. Their work ethic is the same, their efficiency is the same, their skill is the same. One never stops worrying if success will come, and the other never doubts it. Save yourself the trouble and be guy number two.

Don’t expect the prize to come in the middle of the game. They don’t give medals out at halftime. Play hard, enjoy the game, and then walk to the top of the podium like you knew it would happen all along.

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Something to Chew On

What areas of your life do you wholly pour yourself into, but your faith in success lacks? Where do you most need to apply the Hemingway Principle?

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In case this could give somebody you know a smile, a laugh, or a good idea.