India won the cricket match vs Pakistan and all the experts have lauded Virat Kohli and his exploits. Let's face it, India got lucky in the last over but who will remember that and this blog is not about Virat Kohli .
As soon as the match ended, experts were already posting about what made him successful and what we can learn from it. They listed 10 things, 5 leadership traits, and so on. One of my first bosses gave me an amazing insight: He asked me if I had read Robert Ludlum's books and if I liked them. My answer was in the affirmative. His response was perhaps you will be disappointed with the author if you meet him. It has held true in most cases e.g. Stars with a magnified personality on screen are just really human, some bosses end up having feet of clay etc.
I find this dichotomy interesting. The experts are a motley lot...but like the authors, it is easier to write than practice. Everyone wants to stay and remain relevant and be visible as well. A few do have the experience to provide insights, and it makes for interesting reading. However, there is a large majority which just recycles content and stays visible on social media. I once looked through the Twitter feed of a major online platform, it had thousands of followers, but most posts only had single digit interactions.
With attention spans reducing and proliferation of media, it is hard to keep pace and provide insights. Successful and happy people tend to focus on what they are good at and tend to keep the noise aka experts out. They can also come across as brusque and rude and tend to say "No" more often. Experience has taught them what Virat Kohli displayed. You are always alone...you give it your best shot all the time and the outcomes are not always in your control. We need to trust ourselves more than the experts and learn continuously.
Happy Diwali to everyone !!! In victory always spare a thought for the vanquished, that is the ultimate grace.
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