Find Your Chamber

The Wu-Tang Clan is a groundbreaking, 9-member hip hop group formed in the 1990s, hailing from New York (specifically Staten Island a.k.a. Shaolin). The title of their classic debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, is inspired by a kung fu flick titled similarly, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.

An important word in these titles is chamber. What is it?

One take is that a chamber represents a different, distinct style or technique. In the kung fu film, each chamber represents a different martial arts technique for a pupil to master; in the case of the Wu-Tang Clan, each chamber represents a different style of rapping or emceeing. With nine members, all of which bringing their own unique experience and skills, there are many chambers, or styles, you hear when listening to their albums.

Each Wu-Tang member occupies a chamber that is unlike the others; each embracing different subject matter, cadence, flow, and delivery. The source of each Clan member's individuality is rooted in their upbringing, family, and life experiences. Much like our life experiences influence our interests, who our friends are, and our choice of career.

Within our life and work there are innumerable chambers that we can enter and choose to master. Perhaps more importantly, there are chambers in which we must ignore. Time is limited and we must focus on what we deem essential to make progress in life.

Reflect on the chambers in which you reside, in life and in your career. Is your goal to master the chambers you're already in? Or do you wish to move to another chamber? Maybe there are multiple you must master to reach your destination. Whichever chambers you choose, do so wisely.