Competency - going pedantic

Ok, not too pedantic, but there is only one "best in the world" in any field, and while it is noble to aspire to it, it is unrealistic to achieve it. But don't give up!

The GOAT, Valentino Rossi, on his Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike

I work in the field of technical education. We make training to target Information Technology (IT) workers. We also have technical “career” certifications that candidates use to help them land jobs, particularly early in their careers.

Now, I do not have educational credentials around the field of adult education, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last week, so I am an expert¹. Seriously, in the 7+ years I have done this job, I have learned about what “competency” means, and what it isn’t.

But what I really want to discuss here is the process of learning, and how a learner progresses. I will start with a story…

Learning to Box

No, not how to put items into a packing box, but the sport of boxing². One of the stackers’ I subscribe to wrote a post about how as Covid restrictions eased, he was filled with angst and no little bit of rage. They decided to take boxing lessons at a local gym, to (quote) “Kick some ass” (unquote) with the assumption that boxing really was about pasting some other bloke in the face and head to feel better.

But what they learned is that as in virtually all human endeavors, there is a pyramid of skills, and that to reach the pinnacle, you don’t just go for the gold.

This manifests itself as your training gets you ready for sparring, and sparring gets you ready for your bout. And your bouts are planned to pair you with someone who is roughly at your skill level.

And as you progress, there is always someone better than you. Yes, that is right, no matter what your parents told you, no matter what those motivational cartoons from the 70’s say, you are not the most important/most talented/best performer in the world.

And this writer learned that boxing was a far more nuanced sport than just two men trading blows in an attempt to put the other’s lights out.

The Racing Connection

A true confession: I just don’t give an iota of a damn about any of the “ball sports³” something that puzzles my wife who is a HUGE college football fan.

The sport I enjoy watching the most is a motorsport, MotoGP. It is rough and tumble, cut and thrust, poetry and power, and just amazing to watch.

But, when you watch the field of 24 riders (12 teams, 2 riders per team, and sometimes a rider can miss a race or two due to injuries), there will often be a pretty consistent slate in the top 5 positions, and a scrum beyond that.

You might think that the back markers are just awful riders. But you would be wrong. Every person on the grid. Every rider in the pack. Even the last place rider/team is an amazing rider.

To get a slot at that level is not something that you just try for out of the blue. No, you often start early, slinging a leg over a bike before you start kindergarten, you begin racing soon after that, you gain skills and additional opportunities to advance. You start on the dirt, then on small, underpowered road machines, then faster and faster machines, demonstrating an increase in skills, and the ability to win along the way. Your family is deeply involved in all aspects, sacrificing niceties like vacations, and nice houses to go on the circuit.

And if you are lucky enough to have the grit, the skill, and - at least in motorcycle racing - the right body form⁴, then you might get into the FIM circuit. Starting with Moto3, 250cc machines that are pretty uniform, so it is all the riders, then you graduate to Moto2 - 600cc machines (called “Supersport” in the US AMA races), and if you are successful there, you might get a tryout for the bigs at MotoGP. Usually that first taste is filling in for a rider that is injured.

If you acquit yourself well there (that is, you don’t crash out and look comfortable on the bike) you get on the short list of people who might graduate to the premier level.

The time for this is usually 18 - 20 years. Most MotoGP riders are in their early to mid 20’s when they land in the show. And make no mistake, every rider has earned that.

Now to the personal connection - Guitar

The same applies to music. The old adage of when a fare asks the cabbie how to get to Carnegie Hall, the witty reply was a few decades of practice.

When I began to play guitar, I had idols, and I wanted to play like them. And as I progressed, being able to play my favorite songs, I set my sights higher. Michael Schenker gave way to Gary Moore, gave way to Richie Blackmore, then Joe Satriani, then Yngwie Malmsteen, then … you get the idea.

But there is likely an upper limit for you. Finger dexterity, melodic vision, speed, and so on.

In the mid 1990’s I hit my plateau. I just didn’t have the innate ability (however much that matters), and I couldn’t dedicate the time to get measurably better, and truthfully I was frustrated.

Life became hectic.

But fast forward a decade, and I had made peace with my proficiency. I no longer pushed myself (and beat myself up) and began to play to please myself.

Covid has been a spur to get back into the saddle consistently, playing nearly daily, and as an excuse to buy some killer new gear⁵ (because I can). And I am having a blast, even though there are some things that my arthritic left hand can’t do anymore. So be it.

The old US Army slogan applies here: Be all that you can be.

Wise words indeed.

1. Not really, but I am a product manager

2. No, this isn’t about me.

3. Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, etc.

4. Most professional motorcycle racers are fairly small in stature, 5’6” or so, 150#s soaking wet, and a lot more muscle that you might expect as racing is very physically demanding

5. The reason why you buy new gear is to play better, or to sound like someone else but reality is that it never is that easy. So stop lying to yourself, and if you want the Fender USA made guitar, and you can afford it, go for it. Just don’t think you will suddenly be Eric Johnson, ‘cuz it don’t work that way.

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