Day 28: The Permission To Suck
Yesterday, I wrote about how to differentiate yourself and stand out in the world. Shared it with Fuong. To which she replied:
“I don’t do something to become the top 10%? I just want to learn how to do it better.”
I realized that my opinion was incomplete. This blog is an extension of “Day 27: It’s easier to stand out than you think”.
Day 28: The Permission To Suck
Is the worst player the one who comes last in a tournament?
No. The worst player didn’t even register.
Actually. The worst player never learned how to play the game.
For a few areas in life, success is defined by finishing in the top 10/5/1%. A tournament, a scholarship, a job application…
These areas are usually short-term, where the rules of the competition are well-defined, and there are clear winners and losers.
In these areas, enjoyment comes from winning.
However, for the majority of life, success is accomplished just by starting. Starting to exercise. Starting a hobby. Starting a community. Starting to learn a skill. Starting to solve a problem…
These areas are more long-term, with not much competition (if any), and no guidebook on how to win.
In these areas, enjoyment comes from playing and improving. This can only happen if you decide to start.
I think one of my weaknesses, being a "teacher" very early in my life, is that I sometimes forget I'm also a learner - a beginner.
Very often, I’m afraid to look stupid. As a result, I avoid doing things I’m not “already good at”. I turned down opportunities that I haven’t had “2 years of experience in.”
This fear greatly limits my range of possible experiences. Because I end up playing the same games, learning the same topics, and taking on the same roles that I’m “already good at”.
And man, isn’t that boring?
At any stage of life, I think you and I can benefit from taking ourselves less seriously. To start new “experiments”. To look stupid in the beginning. To ask dumb questions. To keep making mistakes.
We should learn to be more comfortable with being bad in the beginning.
The biggest advantage of being a beginner, is that you have all the permission to SUCK.
It’s okay to be average, or even really bad when you are starting.
Because if you don’t start, you’ll never know if you can ever be great.
Em cảm ơn anh. Từ lúc đi du học thì em rất muốn học chơi cờ vua để socialize, nhưng do trải nghiệm không mấy vui vẻ gì với cờ tướng (em suy nghĩ chậm, không đủ nhạy bén để có một chiến thuật hay), em bắt đầu sợ khi nghĩ đến việc học thêm một loại cờ mới ("Sự ngoo ngốk của m sẽ làm người ta chán nản khi dạy m đó :) Nhưng sau khi đọc bài này thì em sẽ tập cờ vua ngay thôi, hehe :"))