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A video of an interview with Will Smith is making its way around social media. In it, he discusses the gap between being good and truly great at something. Smith says the difference between 90% and 100% is “lightyears.” I have always known this, but Smith described the difference in practical terms well. At one point, he says, “You can be good with talent alone,” but to be great… man, you might have to change what you eat.”
Terms like “great, genius,” and “world-class” are overused, perhaps because they mean something different to everyone. Greatness is subjective. Some might say you must be great just to be employed in the film business or to play professional sports, but I don’t think Will Smith or LeBron James think that way. The concept of being great also requires context. You could be a great high school athlete but only an average college player.
Greatness is Habitual
I’m sure you have heard the saying that if you take all the money away from a rich person and give it to a poor person, it is only a matter of time before the rich person is rich again and the poor person is poor again. So, what makes a person rich and what makes them great? I think it is a matter of habits and processes.
If you have ever studied Six Sigma, it is described as a set of methodologies and tools used to improve business processes by reducing defects and errors, minimizing variation, and increasing quality and efficiency. It is essentially a process designed to achieve peak performance in business. Some of the best business executives in the world have utilized the principles of Six Sigma to get from good to great.
Deliberate practice is another concept discussed in the book “Talent is Overrated,” where elite performers perfect their craft through repetitive practice with clear intentions, laser focus, and specific, well-defined goals.
Creativity is the Final Ingredient
The point is that there are several well-established methods for getting better at what you do; however, greatness can still be elusive. People who are great don’t just work hard, nor do they follow a template. They think differently and always take things to another level.
The most often overlooked quality for greatness in any field is creativity. People who are truly great are typically obsessed with their goals, outwork everyone, believe in their ideas, and have the confidence to do things differently.
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