Since I am reading the way that I am while reading, I find myself not knowing what chapter I’m on unless I actively decide to take a look. After finally looking there was an entire chapter dedicated to an accurate self-assessment, the chapter with the pattern entitled “Be the Worst”. The pattern describes surrounding yourself with people who are much better than you are in efforts to improve one’s own abilities. Eventually you end up progressing to a point where you end up as equals with your team. I was then led to consider the team in which I would “take” on this adventure and my role in a team setting. I feel like this chapter allows for a good moment to reflect on your own career in relationship to others. You can’t accurately assess yourself without assessing how you are around other people. Each person on a team provides their own level of experience that can be brought to the table to progress not only the work but the team as well.
The problem that this pattern resolves is the problem that your “rate of learning has leveled off”. Knowing this I wish that I had recognized that this might be a problem that I was facing sooner. I think I had come to a point where I could have only taught myself so much that I needed to look to others in a way that would allow me to improve myself in the same way that I described previously. As much as I am often aggravated by cultural norms, I should see that I too am influenced by them. The cultural norm at play is the encouragement of attaining a position of superiority as fast as you can. It has influenced in a way that may have stunted my growth a bit and could have potentially led me towards something a bit more selfish instead of a more noble pursuit such as mastery.
After learning of this pattern, I think I will work in a more self-aware way. Perhaps in a way that is not so clouded by ego but more so driven by the pursuit of mastery that many others alike are also on.
From the blog CS@Worcester – Sovibol's Glass Case by Sovibol Keo and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.