I'm a good driver. Better than average, that's for sure.
I know, most people think they are an above average driver [reference needed]. But I am.
You are too, right?
I'm good at my job. I'm a programmer, and people around me make stupid mistakes all the time, I could teach them a thing or two if they'd just listen for a moment. But they sometimes don't even NOTICE how good I am.
Do you feel like this too?
Well, here's a theory for you:
Everybody defines "good [driver/programmer/whatever]" differently.
I define "good driver = minimum accidents".
Alex defines "good driver = high control of the car in complex situations".
Izaak defines "good driver = fast driver". LOL
When everybody has a different definition for "good", everybody can be better than average.
And since I think "good driver = safe driver", then I'm focused on being safe. And I become good at being safe. So I want to believe that safe=good because that means that I'm good. There's a circle here:
I'm a safe driver –> I think being safe makes me good –> I'm focused on being safe –> I'm a more safe driver.
This circle has a few outcomes:
I become safer and safer as a driver, I believe more and more that safe matters, and there's also a hidden down side..
The down side is more visible when we discuss programming, or <enter your profession>.
Dave believes that a good programmer is one who is focused on his tasks and does them tidily.
Eyal believes that a good programmer learns a lot.
Ehud believes that a good programmer talks to the managers a lot about what he's doing, so that they'll know what a good programmer he is.
Each of them thinks the other is absolutely silly. They all think they are the top 10%, because 90% of the programmer's "don't even understand what a good programmer is / aren't even TRYING to be good".
And all of them are blind to the other virtues that a good programmer can have.
So you're good at your profession, right? At least you're on the correct direction.
(I decided to leave out the "good person" part)
I'm a good driver – part 1: The problem
- Self development course reviews – Part 1: Intro
- Everybody is analytical