Being "smart" isn't a reliable path to success. But you know what is? Becoming borderline obsessive about one thing and spending a ridiculous amount of time learning about and practicing that thing, such that you get super good at it.

@codinghorror Still has to overlap with “a thing that generates/captures value” or you’re doomed to penniless obscurity for your madness :/

@codinghorror It’s becoming more obvious to me that motivation is an extremely powerful competitive advantage.

@codinghorror That sounds way more difficult and (unless you really love that one thing and know you love it) less fulfilling at the end of the day. Probably better to get "pretty good" at multiple things and enjoy the cross-polination

@codinghorror Relax guys, you can very well be obsessed with learning as many different technologies as humanly possible. The point here is passion, not specialization.

@codinghorror Yep. And then pray it doesn't get replaced / outdated lol

@codinghorror I leave this one as an interesting example... jeromegambit.blogspot.com

@codinghorror That's also the path to failure.

@codinghorror especially if that thing is something that not a lot of other people can/want to do

@codinghorror @SusanAllenMN Practice makes permanent! ❤

@codinghorror what I think is hard is finding that thing one can manage to become a master of.

@codinghorror Actually, i slightly disagree. Lots of people are really good at one thing. The real path to success is to be really good at one thing, and also good at speaking/writing/communication.

@codinghorror Preach, J-Wood

@codinghorror Two caveats: pick something for which there is demand and not overwhelming supply.

@codinghorror @PatriotsOfMars I spent a lot of quarters getting super good at Street Fighter.

@codinghorror Obsession can turn you astray, even if you are fastidious. I love TempleOS, but it makes me sad Terry doesn't make a living off his masterpiece, however impractical it is.

@codinghorror like perl or fortran or angular 1

@codinghorror @dormanmath If you pick the right field so you are rewarded or have the time to find the right one...

@codinghorror Pretty much

@codinghorror That is precisely how I became a master at procrastinating and fucking up....

@codinghorror In reality, everybody is obsessed about something and in Liu spending major part of his time on that. The problem arises when the obsession does not coincides with what is required.

@codinghorror Persistence and perseverance.

@codinghorror It’s mastery.

@codinghorror In my experience smarts is less valuable that sales nous ;)

@codinghorror Yup, another style of millennial generation.

@codinghorror I always felt that the case for the specialist is greater in a larger company, and the case for a generalist more potent in a startup. Hmm? :-)

@codinghorror But make sure it's the *right* thing.

@codinghorror And also lucking out that that thing becomes fundamental and you become sought for and admired for your foresight. Otherwise you’ll be that weirdo obsessing about useless crap, “if only it were tulips...”

@codinghorror this

@codinghorror You also need to know if that thing is the right thing to focus on