Welcome back, everyone. Once again, today's post has nothing to do with anything I suggested I might write about in the past. Oh well. Hope you enjoy, anyway.
See you on Tuesday for who knows what...
Earlier this year, I read Austin Kleon's Steal Like An Artist. In this work, he wrote that if you notice you are the most talented person in a room, you have to go find another room. The line reminded me of something that happened in world football a few seasons ago that spurred me to create a little theory about how people choose to leave or stay at their clubs.
In the summer of 2012, Robin van Persie, a highly rated forward for Arsenal, moved to Manchester United for a very hefty sum. At the time, Arsenal were consistently on the cusp of challenging for a championship but always falling just short while Manchester United were consistently winning championships while occasionally falling just short. The move was interpreted by the press in ways familiar to seasoned sports fans- van Persie only wants to win, van Persie took the easy way out, van Persie betrayed his loyal team, etc (1).
That summer, I thought a great deal about this move. I concluded that van Persie simply looked around one day and decided that the environment of Arsenal was no longer the place for him to maximize his capabilities.
In the summer of 2012, Robin van Persie, a highly rated forward for Arsenal, moved to Manchester United for a very hefty sum. At the time, Arsenal were consistently on the cusp of challenging for a championship but always falling just short while Manchester United were consistently winning championships while occasionally falling just short. The move was interpreted by the press in ways familiar to seasoned sports fans- van Persie only wants to win, van Persie took the easy way out, van Persie betrayed his loyal team, etc (1).
That summer, I thought a great deal about this move. I concluded that van Persie simply looked around one day and decided that the environment of Arsenal was no longer the place for him to maximize his capabilities.
What the exact issue was is anyone's guess. It could have been the ownership's preference for maximizing revenue over on-pitch excellence. Perhaps, a group of teammates content with their position as perennial runners-up finally wore van Persie out. Maybe it simply was being asked to consistently take on responsibilities that were not a match for his own strengths or ambitions one too many times.
But whatever the reason, van Persie most likely moved on because he looked around the club one day and thought 'I'm the most talented guy here and sticking around won't make me any better'. I termed this moment of looking around as 'Van Persie Syndrome'.
There are many other examples of how the most talented people tend to leave the room. Top high school students seek out the best colleges and universities. Artists come together in communities to learn from and inspire each other. Silicon Valley attracts hordes of talented people seeking work with technology.
A good rule has exceptions. I think the exception to Van Persie Syndrome is the teacher. A teacher who realizes that she is the most talented person in the room will hear a small alarm bell going off in her head. It is the signal for the teacher: 'time to get back to work'.
What makes a great teacher? A lousy teacher uses his superior knowledge and position to limit the potential of the student and retain the empty title of Most Talented Person In The Room. A good teacher is never content to be the most talented person in the room and works tirelessly to inspire the student to earn this title. A great teacher is perhaps the one who pushes the most talented student out of the room when there is nothing left in the room for that student to learn from.
Ultimately, I think teachers- or even just those who teach exceptionally well- must take a genuine interest in the progression of the student in order to excel. They are the people who truly enjoy the success of others without succumbing to the negative temptation of comparison.
If that description does not apply to you? Just make sure to regularly look around the room.
Tim
Footnotes
1. Or is it Kevin Durant syndrome?
There are many other examples of how the most talented people tend to leave the room. Top high school students seek out the best colleges and universities. Artists come together in communities to learn from and inspire each other. Silicon Valley attracts hordes of talented people seeking work with technology.
A good rule has exceptions. I think the exception to Van Persie Syndrome is the teacher. A teacher who realizes that she is the most talented person in the room will hear a small alarm bell going off in her head. It is the signal for the teacher: 'time to get back to work'.
What makes a great teacher? A lousy teacher uses his superior knowledge and position to limit the potential of the student and retain the empty title of Most Talented Person In The Room. A good teacher is never content to be the most talented person in the room and works tirelessly to inspire the student to earn this title. A great teacher is perhaps the one who pushes the most talented student out of the room when there is nothing left in the room for that student to learn from.
Ultimately, I think teachers- or even just those who teach exceptionally well- must take a genuine interest in the progression of the student in order to excel. They are the people who truly enjoy the success of others without succumbing to the negative temptation of comparison.
If that description does not apply to you? Just make sure to regularly look around the room.
Tim
Footnotes
1. Or is it Kevin Durant syndrome?
Kevin Durant recently left Oklahoma City to sign with Golden State. This move bears enough similarities to the van Persie move- a top player leaves a team always falling just short for one that has won very recently. As was the case with van Persie, the reaction to this move covered varied ground.
I suspect all it came down to was Durant's desire to become the best basketball player he could become. This is the most likely to happen with Golden State, a team whose philosophies naturally favor Durant's skills.
