On being the most extreme version of ourselves

Germans are lined up in Munich to buy the iPad2 in this March file photo.
This is the cover story for the Sept. 19 weekly edition of the Christian Science Monitor.

AP Photo/John Kehe illustration

I’m not sure Apple even thinks about the competition. They’re uniquely themselves without worrying about anyone else. When I worked for Steve there was little discussion about the competition. The aim was for us to be the most extreme version of ourselves. When you adopt that approach, it causes you to think about things in a different way.

—Keith Yamashita, from “The Apple Effect” in Sept 19th's Christian Science Monitor

In an earlier post, I introduced a concept called Doane's Razor. In a nutshell, the idea is to evaluate the merit of a proposed law, policy decision, or behavior you are trying to influence, consider:

Would the world be a better place if everyone (insert a description of the behavior in question)?

I believe Mr Gilliss was using Doane's Razor when, in response to Mr Yamashita's comment in the epigraph above, he posed the following question for discussion on Krista Tippett's blog: 

How should we be “the most extreme version of ourselves” in our own work lives? If more of us lived out this philosophy on the job and perhaps in our personal lives, would we be better off for it? I’m thinking, “Yes!” (within reason, of course). *grin*

--Trent Gilliss - senior editor - On Being, radio producer, journalist, writer - American Public Media

I strongly encourage all readers to think about this question, navigate to Krista Tippett's blog, On Being, and leave a thoughtful comment. Your comments here are also most welcome!

Being Blog • Extreme Self:




Here is my comment:

I believe in self-actualization as a means to happiness, not as an end unto itself. The peace, joy, and love for self and others that results from true happiness is the goal. Focusing on "extreme" self-actualization would be problematic if the motives were questionable. Extreme Apple seems to have worked out well, but extreme Enron? Extreme Barry Bonds? Extreme Martha Stewart? Extreme Bernie Madoff? Will the world be better if we all take steroids? Engage in insider trading? Drive faster? Work harder? As a cancer survivor I know what happens when cell growth gets extreme. I am convinced that super-sizing myself would be a mistake. As a disciple of Christ, I'd rather attempt to develop along the lines of a better example.

Returning to Doane's Razor for a conclusion, I suggest the idea is to concentrate not on becoming extreme versions of ourselves, but on becoming the best versions of ourselves.

Here is a link to the original Christian Science Monitor article.