When it comes to achieving greatness, important hills usually get much steeper at the top. This concept applies to various aspects of life, including athletics, technology, and even healthcare.
It’s fascinating to note that 99% of the training in competitive athletics is focused on the last 1% of performance – a mere tenth of a second can make all the difference. The same principle applies to squeezing out the last bit of performance from a car, a grape, or a semiconductor. The challenges become more difficult as soon as we declare something important and invite the world to compete.
Our experience may tell us that more input leads to more output, but in extreme competitive conditions where competitors are pushing towards the very end of the curve, this rule is often suspended. The ultimate test lies in how extreme the last few steps can be.
There are two clear options available:
- Focus on activities where you are in the sweet spot of the curve, where more preparation, focus, and effort yield enormous benefits. This may require walking away from competitions where others are determined to be unreasonable.
- Alternatively, you can embrace the unreasonable and accept that your competitors will adopt the same approach. While harboring an unreasonable mindset may be thrilling, it can be challenging to sustain a career solely based on this.
As we navigate through these choices, it’s essential to consider the long-term sustainability and personal values that align with our career path. Striking a balance between pushing boundaries and maintaining integrity is key to achieving lasting success.