What if doing your best -- at what you're best at -- isn't enough?

This is such a good article in two ways.<p>First this is an internal dialogue that is a natural offshoot of 'imposter syndrome'. And for me it actually becomes more frequent as I progress further in my career as a dev. This is because it becomes more apparent to me how much I <i>don't</i> know, and I begin to wonder if I'll ever be good enough to attain the level of expertise that I aspire to.<p>What makes it more poignant for me is that I've pursued something like this before (sports career) and didn't quite make it (understatement), and I'm currently trying to reconcile myself with all the time and effort I invested in the process and how to ramp down from something that was my overriding ambition for so long. The good thing is that I've learned a lot of lessons from the experience and the main takeaway for me was ... if it isn't working, get out ... life is too short and there are many many other things to try your hand at.<p>The second thing that I liked about it was how it shows exactly why we should have empathy for other developers. I loved this section<p><i>For every dude I dismiss, every footnote in a roundup post, every guy deemed worthy of mere shrugs or raised eyebrows — all of whom are well-compensated for their work, no doubt — there is someone far away on the other end of the phone coaching him or advising him or loving him who wants desperately for him to succeed and be happy</i><p>because one of the things I try to live by is this<p><i>Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle --- Plato</i><p>I've had endured a few insults in my life as a dev ("You'll never be an engineer son, maybe a scripter or something, but never an engineer"), by people who thought I'd never make it as a programmer. Many years, later, here I am ... doing a pretty decent job at it, and I'll never forget all the kind people who encouraged me, took a time out to explain something to me ... again, just like I'll never forget the couple of times someone was a complete dick to me, because they thought I had no prospects as a developer.<p>I guess what I'm saying is, whenever you feel the need to dismiss someone who has no skills ... maybe take a step back and see if what they need is encouragement, coaching and a little bit of direction instead.

Analogy to startups: - Filter out all the background noise just like athletes filter out the media. Stop caring about what [insert tech blog here] just posted about your competition, who got what funding, who's presenting at Disrupt. Focus on yourself - the rest is just fluff.<p>Analogy to personal development: - If you love what you do and your best isn't cutting it at your role then consider a minor pivot. The best basketball and football coaches at the professional level are usually not the best players and yet they managed to find a role that leverages their love for the game while pivoting away from their physical disadvantages.

Doing what you're best at in a field with limited places for the best - like baseball - may set you up for failure.<p>There's a relevant concept in economics called comparative advantage - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_advantage" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_advantage</a>. Even if you are not the best at <i>anything</i>, there are some things that are "enough" - that create surplus.

&#62;Worrying about the above-listed peculiarities of playing the sport professionally and actually playing it professionally are likely, in many cases, mutually exclusive.<p>There is a fantastic book called, "The Inner Game of Tennis" that helps describe that the ability to reach your max potential is to silence the self-criticizing ego and essentially just do it by seeing and feeling.<p>Anecdotal? Sure Interesting? Absolutely.

Just because someone is doing something, it doesn't mean that is what they are best at. Maybe this particular baseball player would be much better at being a lawyer. But he wants to play baseball--so there he is, struggling in Florida.<p>How does one know what they are best at, anyway? I try to be reflective, and I ask people whom I trust what they think. Often the answers don't agree, or they reflect the subjectivity of each relationship (e.g. my lawyer telling me I'd be a good lawyer--but how would he know if I'd be a better cook?). Sometimes they are things that I actually don't like doing. So where does that leave me?

I guess that's why baseball players are encouraged to remain even-keeled, and not be stuck in a high, or low. Just focus on execution, and forget about the drama, and mental noise.

If you're doing your best at what you're best at, but in a field that gives you no pleasure, will success even be enough?<p>Doubtful.

What about doing your best at something you're terrible at? Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you still make a little impact in a big industry.<p>If you got into your field of expertise with ease, find it lacking in challenges. with little impact, maybe it's time to try your best at something new &#38; difficult and therefore perhaps more rewarding.<p>Even moving into a field with a wider scope, something critical that benefits others greatly. Success and job satisfaction can be found in many places other than 'being the best' or being in an enviable position.

Baseball must be especially tough for players, considering it is mostly just individual contests over and over, pitcher versus batter. On team sports like basketball or hockey you can always rationalize that the rest of your team should have done more.

It's like a less tongue-in-cheek version of the despair.com poster: <a href="http://www.despair.com/fail24x30pri.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.despair.com/fail24x30pri.html</a>

Why would you even consider this question? I know why you would, but on a deeper level, spending time on this is not healthy or constructive.<p>Maybe you can't ever be at your best. Maybe you'll always improve, no matter how long you train. Idealistic? You bet your ass. It's taken me further in life than I ever thought possible--and it will continue to carry me.<p>Don't forget: they don't know who you are. You don't know fully who you are.

I'm getting a 403 response.

good writing for sure but so much set up for so little insight? I you're gonna do that you might as well just get to the point!

Go blue ocean. If you're being true to your vision and individuality, it will always be good enough.<p>P.S. I'd like to qualify "good enough". I've poured blood, sweat, tears and spit into ideas that ended up being completely ignored by the world. I still consider them good enough though. I am still proud of what I accomplished.<p>You are the ultimate decider of what is good enough.