Best in the World or for the World?

by Craig Johnson

I'm always amazed by people who are the best at what they do. These are people that dedicate their life to an instrument, a sport, an invention, acting, politics, etc. I'm talking about true and raw talent. Unbridled excellence. They have reached the Gladwell "10,000-hour" mark and have mastered their craft. These people sit first-chair in the orchestra, play professional basketball and win every spelling bee in grade school. They collect every award, scholarship, and are paraded around at family reunions as the pride of the family. Though inspiring at times, they also are often a blatant and discouraging reminder of what we have not quite accomplished ourselves.

These people are the Best in the World.

Then there is another group of people. People who are much less impressive on paper. They didn’t make it into an Ivy League school and, in fact, may have dropped out of school. They’re not particularly concerned with their resume or personal accolades. They don’t claim to be the best at what they do, and truth be told, they aren’t.

But, there is something about them that makes them stand out. They don’t get bogged down with details and are always seeing the bigger picture. They are less focused on their own abilities and spend a significant amount of time supporting and involving themselves with those around them. They give people the freedom to focus on their potential instead of their inabilities. Ironically, it’s more likely that they are leaders in their peer groups and in their industries. They are the ones that have a tribe of fans, followers, and friends. They are people of influence.

These people are the Best for the World.

The biggest distinction between being the best in the world and the best for the world is impact. If you are the best in the world, we will learn a lot about how great you are and admire your talent or ability. But if you are the best for the world, you will help others believe in how great they may become. I draw inspiration from those that fall in the "Best for the World" category. They may be individuals or they may even be brands. They may be famous or just a close friend. But instead of wishing I were more like them, they make me glad to be me. They inspire me to inspire others.

I’m definitely a proponent of people trying to master a craft and pursue their passion or talent. I just also believe, in reflecting upon my own life recently, that there is a slight distinction in what it means to be the “best.”

If I want to have a positive impact on this world, no matter what my trade or skill, it starts with my influence on those around me. My focus needs to be not just on being the best in the world, but on being the best for the world.

Comments

Christopher Hernandez

Why can't we be both?

More on this later, maybe...gotta run.

Blessings.

Craig Johnson

Christopher, I would say you can for sure be both. In no way did I want the two to seem mutually exclusive, but that one shouldn't just stop at being the best in the world.

Chris Moore

Probably because only ONE person could be the BEST. and chances are, that's not me. but i can be what Craig talked about:

"If I want to have a positive impact on this world, no matter what my trade or skill, it starts with my influence on those around me. My focus needs to be not just on being the best in the world, but on being the best for the world."

Craig, that line struck me the most.

Josh Hageman

Everyone can be both but its the conflict with yourself that prevents it. If you the best in the world, like you said your striving for your passions and wants. Its something new to not fight to be first, or the most decisive and accurate in the area you are pursuing. If that's where you fit in it would seem best that a person that is best for the world helps you to try and be likewise. A person that is best for the world, I would guess more than proble struggles with the fact that they never really seem to accel at much. That they feel their impact pales to those that are striving to be the best in the world. So it takes a person that is best in the world to take them under a wing so to speak. Not to make them second rate but to give there knowledge so the best for the world has the confidence to strive for those passions. I'm not saying that this is every single person in the world. There are always exceptions. I guess what i'm sayin is that it takes a person from each of the two views to help the other to be better at there opposite. Thus by doing both of these you are infact being apart of both.

Doug McKinnis

I deeply agree with Craig Johnson on this subject, Christianity seems to have become more focused at who is the best at what they do rather than being focused on creating an impact to change the minds of how we are viewed...Jesus didn't come to be the best human, he became human so we become the best for the world...He told the disciples "that GREATER things they will do than what they have seen..."