Saturday, January 16, 2010

World class vs. Local class

What is it to be world class? It means to be a master in the field. It means having solved 80% of the problems in that field. It means knowing more than 99% of the rest of the world in that field. World class stuff cannot be denied.

Local class on the other hand is comparing yourself with yourself, or with your peers. It means being better that what is immediately visible. Being top local class in one place implies that you can be bottom local class somewhere else.

So question is, should one be world class in everything?

Turns out, its practically not feasible. World class demands time and effort. Dedication. Discipline. Deliberate practice. You can't be world class at more than two fields. And for most of us, its just one.

World class has its perks, but has a price. Trying to be world class in everything actually moves you away from life, away from friends, away from fun. And then any new thing you have to do, you suddenly set such high standards for yourself, you end up hating to do it, rather than having fun doing it.

So lets be practical Clinton, one world class item... please,... and we'll be GREAT at it.....

Yours truly,

Your Brain.

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