4 ms·

What's the difference between great work and good work? It seems you are trying very hard to be a contrarian ( Which funnily is a trait of older age )

nadam 3y ago
The difference is that great work is achieved by 1 in one million people. Good work can be achieved by one in 1000 people, or one in 100 depending on your definition. You can adjust your definition of good work to your circumstances. The difference is that even if you are much smarter than average you have miniscule chance to achieve the kind of great work pg tells you about. You can have a high chance to achieve good work, if your definition of good work is realistic. Yeah, I have some contrarian tendencies, always had, but I am not contrarian in every topic and hopefully not contrarian just for the sake of it.
- inimino 3y ago
  Your definition of good work is so above and beyond that well under one percent can approach the rarified air of your high standards? I don't believe you.
  - nadam 3y ago
    The main problem is that pg does not even try to define what level of success he speaks about. I think he should be more clear and honest about it: Is it the one in a million great work he writes about, or is it the one in 100? These are entirely different stories. Anyway I am afraid he writes about the one in a million kind. And my point is that don't try to optimize for that kind of success, it is better to adjust your approach to your circumstances to have a greater chance of success.
isaacremuant 3y ago
Yeah. His comment is very hard to parse for insight. One thing that happens the more experienced you get is that more and more of your work seems "not complex"/"too trivial". But then you realize how many people struggle at those trivial things in similar position and realize it's a trait: - implement simple solutions that provide value. - empower others to understand and use your solutions and implement their own. - tackle on more issues that provide the most value (and not necessarily the most complex). - repeat and expand. Do more with less. Make it less or a battle. - help and foster collaboration of heterogeneous actors. - proactively fix projects before they go the wrong way. - etc It's not about being particular smart or better but finding methodologies that work and being very conscious and intentional about your work.

nadam 3y ago

The difference is that great work is achieved by 1 in one million people. Good work can be achieved by one in 1000 people, or one in 100 depending on your definition. You can adjust your definition of good work to your circumstances. The difference is that even if you are much smarter than average you have miniscule chance to achieve the kind of great work pg tells you about. You can have a high chance to achieve good work, if your definition of good work is realistic. Yeah, I have some contrarian tendencies, always had, but I am not contrarian in every topic and hopefully not contrarian just for the sake of it.

inimino 3y ago
Your definition of good work is so above and beyond that well under one percent can approach the rarified air of your high standards? I don't believe you.
- nadam 3y ago
  The main problem is that pg does not even try to define what level of success he speaks about. I think he should be more clear and honest about it: Is it the one in a million great work he writes about, or is it the one in 100? These are entirely different stories. Anyway I am afraid he writes about the one in a million kind. And my point is that don't try to optimize for that kind of success, it is better to adjust your approach to your circumstances to have a greater chance of success.

isaacremuant 3y ago

Yeah. His comment is very hard to parse for insight. One thing that happens the more experienced you get is that more and more of your work seems "not complex"/"too trivial". But then you realize how many people struggle at those trivial things in similar position and realize it's a trait: - implement simple solutions that provide value. - empower others to understand and use your solutions and implement their own. - tackle on more issues that provide the most value (and not necessarily the most complex). - repeat and expand. Do more with less. Make it less or a battle. - help and foster collaboration of heterogeneous actors. - proactively fix projects before they go the wrong way. - etc It's not about being particular smart or better but finding methodologies that work and being very conscious and intentional about your work.