Hidden Potential

researchers investigated what happened to teams after their star players got injured. As expected, teams got worse. But once the star returned, they won even more games than they had before he was hurt. Why did losing their best player ultimately help them get better?

For every project that matters to me, I’ve had judging committees for over a decade now. They’re not permanent structures; they’re temporary scaffolding.

practice is incomplete without play,

social scientist,

A rut is not a sign that you’ve tanked. A plateau is not a cue that you’ve peaked. They’re signals that it may be time to turn around and find a new route.

you’re shooting for better. The only way to win is to grow.

Even if your chosen expert can walk you through their route, when you ask for directions on yours, you’ll run into a second challenge. You don’t share the same strengths and weaknesses—their hills and valleys aren’t the same as yours. You might be heading for the same destination, but you’re starting far from their position.

But traveling great distances depends on recognizing that perfection is a mirage—and learning to tolerate the right imperfections.

A great deal of research shows that perfectionists tend to define excellence on other people’s terms. This focus on creating a flawless image in the eyes of others is a risk factor for depression, anxiety, burnout, and other mental health

if you’re ever lucky enough to get a 10, it’s not for perfection but for excellence.