ENDA Episode 33→ The time when the Endless Apprentice never knew the top of the World

Some will define being on top of the World when you achieve something that no one else has done before or that you are number 1 in something. Is a sensation unique that you should aspire to, they said, but it is?

Even way before I decided to start my journey, I never had the chance to really feel like I was at the top of the World in almost anything, and in many ways that was good.

I know that many will see that as frustrating or think that I was being conformist and never try to do things with passion, but in reality, it was the opposite. I did try to put an effort in many of the things I advocate, but outside of the school I was always surpassed and interestingly, it was always by a girl.

➡️ When I was learning English in an institute, I always got beaten in scores and fluidity, by one of the girls in the class that I ended up with.

➡️ When I was taking a Graphic Design course in the summer of my third year of college, my designs were always overshadowed by a very talented 15-year-old girl.

➡️ When I entered college and during my whole career, I was surpassed in every aspect by one of my classmates. The few times I managed to score a win against her, did not last long. Curious thing: she is one of my best friends up to date.

And if you read the Grand Line of VFX series (https://lnkd.in/e_xTk5Nt), you’ll understand how much of a beating I took during those years.

Nevertheless, I never saw any of those losses as failures or held resentment against the people who surpassed me.

On the contrary, every time I was defeated, I thought deeply about how and why I’d lost. The answer was always the same: I knew how much effort and time I put into my work and studies, so they must have put double or triple what I gave. Not to mention the different ways of learning they had and the innate talent involved.

And I found it amusing every time. Being surpassed meant one thing: that I could always be better than I was, that I could always reach higher and I could always face people smarter and more skillful than I was and learn from them.

So, yes I never knew how it is to be top of the World, but I bet it would be very boring. Once you get to the top of the World, there is nothing more to aspire to, no more challenges, no more people to look up to, and about all: no one else to share it with, because when someone else reaches the top, you fall back again.

That’s why I said: “Thank you” to all the people that I’ve come across and that I will meet in the future, for showing me how exciting can be the journey, rather than the destination.

Have you ever been close to the top of the World?