More Mindset: Robert Fripp's Ten Principles of Craft
How the King Crimson guitarist's manifesto for excellence inspires us to be our something more.
Today’s post will be shorter than usual as I think you’ve probably seen enough of me this week. I’m a little fed up of myself, to be honest :)
I thought I’d share this little delight with you.
How I came across Robert Fripp’s 10 Principles of Craft
Back in 2004, I was looking for something on the internet and came across a jewel called “10 Principles of Craft”, by prog rock guitar wizard, Robert Fripp. I wasn’t a King Crimson fan and knew nothing about Mr Fripp, but the simplicity, economy and directness of his list made an impact on me. It seemed like a good manifesto for not only craft, but life.
I saved the 10 Principles of Craft in my “chewy ideas” folder and pinned a copy on the noticeboard in my study, right behind my monitor, where it stayed for 14 years.
When I chucked everything into storage to embark on my UK travel adventure four years ago, 10 Principles was one of the few items from the noticeboard that came with me. I like having it around.
This morning I went looking for the source online and couldn’t find the original listing, but it’s interesting to see that Fripp has included an updated version of the 10 Principles in his recent book The Guitar Circle (2022, Panegyric).**