“Don’t be a Tryhard”
There was a stretch of time not long ago where trying too hard had a negative connotation. Being “low effort” or ironic was something to aspire to, and openly trying to be improve yourself could come off as cringe.
A lot of that came from a broader culture that rewarded irony and detachment. It was safer to act like you didn’t care than to risk putting in real effort and falling short. If you never tried, you never failed.
The Pursuit of Greatness
Recently, there has been a shift. It feels like trying hard is becoming cool again.
I know it’s popular to hate on Timothée Chalamet right now, but his acceptance speech at last year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards really captures what I’m talking about.
Chalamet’s tone in the speech is almost like he’s admitting to a crime, like his desire to be great is something he has to confess. It’s bizarre that he caught so much heat for it. The media critiqued him for not being humble enough, and some even claimed he was “punching down” after winning his award.
Set Goals Like a Stoic
I respect Timothée for being so upfront about his goals and not shying away from his intentions. By being that honest with himself and others, he’s actually following a very Stoic approach to setting and pursuing goals. See the following quote from Epictetus.
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”
Picking a goal and orienting your life towards the completion of that goal is admirable and logical.
What To Do?
I’ve been trying a few small things to get back into the habit of really putting effort into things that I think matter, and I encourage you to give one (or all) a try this week:
Pick one thing you’ve been holding back on and actually try.
Set a small, clear goal and focus on the process. Effort matters more than instant results. Track your progress.
Celebrate your effort, not just the outcome.
Challenge yourself to learn something new. Pick a skill, a hobby, or a project and dedicate real effort to it this week.
Pick a goal and work towards it. Achievement is admirable.
See you all next week,
Nate