Running for the red line

I went to meet a gentleman tonight about a website I had built for a local pub poker league I used to play in. The gentleman in question runs a game at a few venues and had some ideas to re-focus the site as a promotional tool more than the dry but functional league standings that it exists to expose at the moment. He had spent some time in powerpoint mocking up a layout to illustrate his vision, and he wanted some advice on how to publish it on the website.

I confess, I went a bit hard on him. I went in to the meeting fully aware that he was expecting me to open a piece of software like Photoshop or Word, and quickly import or re-create his vision using tools he would recognise, before clicking the “Make it appear on the internet” button.

Instead I showed him the markup language behind the website, and the complicated MVC framework, and the database.

He did quite well, watched patiently for a full 10 minutes before he started lookikng at the football results on his own computer.

Long story short, he was excited and motivated to learn something new, but there was a huge gap between his expectations, his current level of understanding and the level he would need to reach to be able to do what he wanted. And he had totally underestimated how long the road really was.

• He could learn how much he had to learn, but it would take him a few days.
• He could learn to be competent, but it would take him many months.
• He could learn to be as proficient as me, but it would take him a number of years.
• He could learn to be one of the best in the world, but it would require passion, diligence and great drive.

As we talked, I was keen not to crush his spirit, demotivate him, steal this opportunity he had given himself to enter a new and what I consider interesting field.

I looked to offer him a solution better than “I’ll just do it for you” or “I’ll spend a significant amount of time making an interface that you will not need training to use” or “I’ll agree to take on the full responsibility of tutoring and mentoring you.”

I needed to curb my frustration, and his by trying by finding a way to empathise with his feelings. And Poker always seems ready to offer itself up as a metaphore, or analogy.

I came to understand that I now have a similar road ahead of me in studying poker, as he will have in studying web development.

• No coach is going to come along and grind my bankroll for me, just as I will not buid his pages for him.
• No training site or software house is going to release a bot that tells me which button to press to win all the money, nor will I spend weeks configuring the Content Management System he is looking for.
• No Pro will galantly offer to guide me Pro Bono and teach me everything they know before proudly passing on the mantle to a diligent seito. Nor will I steer him through the sylabus he will need to follow to reach his goals.

There are many resources both he and I have access to, so long as we seek them out.

I have spent time naievely limp calling in 2NL congratulating myself on my illusions of progress, completely unware that my meagre results are not only flawed but completely in-approprate for a real world foundation to move forward with.

Since joining DC I believe I have passed those “first few days” (took me over a year) learning how much I had to learn.
I am now aware that I need a range of skills and disciplines, and I believe that in DC, I have a curriculim. Now I need to study these chapters, and hone new skills .

These lessons will take many months before I am ready to rely on my instincts, and after that there will still be much to learn.
After 2-5 years of continuous improvement I may be able to consider myself proficient.

The only remaining question is – Can I then summon the drive and passion to go beyond “Good enough”, to will myself to accept that 95% is not even close to “great” no matter how many professionals settle for it.
To recognise the true nature of greatness – that the last 5% will take more time, pain, sweat and frustration than the whole of the rest of the journey?

Ikkle brag – my name’s on the front page (non logged in users) of DC as a testimonial!
Pride! I love this site!