Don’t Be the Best. Be the Only.

(This is something that I wrote on kottke.org.)

This sounds related to the Helsinki Bus Station Theory, which I assume you’re aware of (because I assume you’re aware of everything!) but I don’t think you’ve mentioned on the site.

I do like that idea, and Kevin’s, although it feels that in both cases being “the only”, or “staying on the bus”, is automatically a good thing, or a way to achieve success (however you define that for yourself). But I can imagine people could work their whole lives becoming more distinctive at their particular niche but not necessarily end up doing something useful, beautiful, interesting, or even distinctive.

Is there not a danger this is one of those lessons from successful people that describes what worked for them? Survivorship bias? (I’d love to be argued out of this pessimistic view.)

See on kottke.org.