Good enough.

Let’s face it: most of us are not world-class. We are decent, skilled, good at what we do. Others might even consider us experts, the local hero. But we are not in the top 3% of the world. Yet?

So, what would define success if we were not in that league of the best of the best? It is not going to be a world record. Is day-to-day improvement an indication of success? Will only a personal best or a promotion be counted as a success? Is revenue, profit, or the balance on your savings account an indication of success? Are happiness, peace of mind, or the ability to take care of your family indicative of success? Come up with your definition of success.

And while you’re at it, let your brain run over what trade-offs you are willing to accept. Can success at work go at the expense of your health? How much of your time and energy are you willing to trade? Is it still worth it if all you manage to do in your spare time is crash down on the couch and binge-watch Netflix? Set some limits.

Your definition of success and the limits you put around how you want to aim for that success will determine what you want to optimize versus what is good enough. Most things will have to be good enough, if you want to stand a chance of becoming world-class.