What am I best at? This is a question I used to struggle with to no end. I sought simplicity, clarity, and definitiveness. I found confusion, hopelessness, and frustration.
This is a troubled man’s problem. Being the best is an egoistic desire. Being the best is, in many ways, overconfident and ignorant. “Foolish” some would say.
I have friends who are, at least, 10x better than me at: engineering (all types), design, art, music, writing, marketing, sales, etc.
It has been hard for me to come to terms with that. It is not just that I recognize there are strangers out there who are more talented than me…it is that I know people – I work with people – who are plainly just much better than me. I have to not only accept that, I have to embrace that. I have to be honest with myself and not convince others that I am something I am not.
I know what I am not. And I know what I will not become. I know where I am strong and where I am weak.
This sounds all artsy and abstract, but actually codifying your strengths and weakness is extremely valuable. Actually understanding where you will be great and where you will not be can save you tons of time.
I know I am not an inventor. I will not invent the world’s latest and greatest technologies. I will not work on the frontier of my field and build that part of the future.
I am not a professional athlete. A TV personality. A famous journalist. The list goes on and on.
Figuring out what I am not…and what I do not want to be….has been super interesting and valuable.
Also published on Medium.