The last post discussed The Competition-Skills Balance and how, by synergizing the right combination of skills, we can reduce competition while not overburdening ourselves; we strike a balance between time and competition. But what about highly competitive arenas like sports, music, or the arts? How can we differentiate ourselves in fields where competition is almost limitless?
A core argument from the last post was that it is rare for an individual to become elite in more than three skills simultaneously. Yet, fiercely competitive arenas require elite talent at more than three skills. Naturally, this will demand substantial time and effort. Expect to devote years, if not a decade, to the craft. Regarding effort, hard work is simply the price of admission and not a guarantee of success.
Instead, we are wise to employ strategy along with effort and time. The trick is to use two different methods for skill acquisition: the 80/20 Rule and “go the distance.”
The 80/20 Rule, or Pareto’s Law, states that 80% of the outputs come from just 20% of the inputs. In plain English, this means that a minority of actions result in a majority of the results, while most actions deliver only slight value. It is observed in areas like wealth distribution, where a minority own most of the riches, or crime, where a few repeat offenders result in most law breaking. By identifying those crucial 20% of inputs, we may enhance learning with minimal effort and time.
“Go the distance” is reserved for the skills and crafts we truly enjoy and naturally excel. There is no finish line with these talents. We play an infinite game, constantly improving in perpetuity. We pursue these skills for the sake of doing them, where the act or practice is enough of a reward.
Let’s start with an example to clarify the above. Steph Curry is considered one of the best basketball players of all time. He is not a physical anomaly of size, speed, and strength. If we passed him on the street, we would not think he was born to play basketball. Yet, Steph has become elite by maximizing his strengths and improving his weaknesses just enough.
To play basketball, we must be able to dribble, pass, and shoot on offense, as well as rebound and defend on defense. These five basic skills need to be learned before we can effectively compete. Despite being one of the greatest, Steph is not elite in all five areas. Most would argue that he is below average in defending and rebounding. However, he passes and dribbles at an elite level and shoots better than anyone in the history of basketball.
Steph identified and maximized his strengths. He “goes the distance,” particularly with shooting. When it comes to defending and rebounding, he applied the 80/20 Rule by making these skills just effective enough to compete in the NBA. Had Steph chosen to focus on defense and rebounding, he would not be considered one of the greatest, nor would he likely be competing in the NBA. But by choosing to focus on the areas in which he excelled – shooting, dribbling, and passing – he combined effort with strategy.
There is no formula for success. Time is required, and effort is expected. However, by adding strategy, we increase the likelihood of success. Identify the core requirements of your craft. Apply the 80/20 Rule to the areas you struggle with, improving them just enough. Then, direct your attention and focus toward the areas where you truly excel and enjoy the most. Play an infinite game. “Go the distance.”
