If you’re reading this, we probably share the same ambition: to be world-class at our craft.
Because that’s the only way you have a real shot at making something that matters.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what it takes to reach that level — the conditions that make remarkable work possible. Here’s what I’ve found so far.
1. Do the thing you’re genuinely passionate about.
You won’t become world-class chasing an outcome you don’t truly care about. You have to be obsessed with the work itself — the essence of the craft — not the rewards it might bring. If your dopamine comes from praise, status, or money, you’ll lose to someone who does it for the love of it. Bonus: if you love the craft, you’ll keep learning as a byproduct.
2. Maximize your time in creation.
Most people spend more time around the work than in it. Track your day. If more than half your hours aren’t deep in the craft, you’re drifting. Aim for 4–6 high-quality hours a day in uninterrupted creation — in 90+ minute blocks. Think like an athlete: Did I get my practice in today?
3. Ship the work.
Don’t feed your ego with compliments on unfinished things. World-class is built on endless cycles of: idea → build → ship. Half-finished reps don’t count. You don’t grow by stopping at 50%. Be a finisher. Every day. Make it simpler if you must, but finish. Ship daily. Anything else is noise.
4. Volume makes you better.
If you nail #1, #2, and #3 with discipline, your volume will rise naturally. More shipped work means more practice. More practice means better work. It’s that simple. Quantity compounds into quality.
5. Take full ownership.
Don’t just “complete” the task and move on. In software, shipping once and calling it done is lazy. Use it, break it, fix it. Ownership means caring enough to close the loop — to hunt down flaws and fix them fast.
6. Make your own calls.
Don’t hide behind other people’s opinions. Many seek early approval just to later say, “It didn’t work, but you told me to do it.” That’s cowardice. Real ownership is making the call yourself and taking the hit if you’re wrong. If you never make mistakes, you’re not learning — you’re hiding.
7. Find a way. Always.
The world is made of friction and resistance. Average people accept them as reasons to stop. World-class people see them as tests of desire. If you accept the obstacle, you accept mediocrity. Train yourself to push through. Relentlessly. If you’re always comfortable, you’re not growing.
Follow these every day. Bring discipline. Lead yourself. Do it for years, and you’ll be ahead of 99% of people — with a real shot at world-class.
The ambition to do remarkable work is not comfortable. It’s choosing the hard thing, again and again. If you’re not living these principles, your dream is an illusion.
So ask yourself: Do you really want to be world-class? Or do you just like imagining the idea of it?