Why it’s vital to go to the heart of things

About being an intellectual tortoise, about limits and walls, about biodiversity and shades of grey.

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I’m not a genius. I’m not that kind of person that grasps how things work at a glance thanks to a sharp mind. I need to go to the heart of things to have a good understanding. I need to break up, simplify and see examples. I learn a lot by examples and even more by teaching because it pushes me to go deep into things. I read and practice a lot.

I’m honest: if they asked me whether I would have preferred to be a beautiful mind I would have given four yeses.

“But that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ~ Gandalf the Gray

Thus, part of my work as developer and entrepreneur consists in investing time trying to understand how things work, how to overcome limits and climb new walls.

Going to the heart of things also gives me the opportunity to pinpoint details. Once a genius friend of mine said me that he couldn’t be able to spot as many details as me, lacking wish and patience to focus on them. Indeed, he explained, as soon as something appears clear to him, he looses any interest; he then feels the urgency to find the next big challenging thing to hack or dismantle. While his focus is on winning the competition, mine is on preparing for it.

That’s perfectly normal, because we are not the same, we are different shades of grey. What’s more, being different is even necessary: biodiversity has a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

This post represents an encouragement for those who think they are intellectual tortoises like me: never give up, your work is precious, you are a fundamental part of the whole ecosystem and remember: the slow tortoise races the speedy hare.

Happy new year!