Amateur

Every single day, we learn, unlearn, and relearn an essential truth: to become the best versions of ourselves, we must first shed our negative, self-deprecating identities. I would go further and say that we must even shed our negative definitions, which give rise to unnecessary and unkind biases.

Consider the word "amateur":

These definitions highlight a curious duality: an amateur can be someone passionate yet unpaid, or someone perceived as incompetent. But what happens when passion and skill collide in the absence of professional recognition?

I encountered a vivid illustration of this paradox this week when I met Nora, a programmer from Poland. Nora had embarked on a monumental task: replicating macOS inside a React.js environment. Our paths crossed during a small part of their journey—replacing the exact gradient of the Menu Bar.

This seemingly minor detail captivated the attention of five programmers, me included. We found ourselves deeply contemplating how some pioneering artist had managed to create this gorgeous piece of work, now hidden behind copyright and likely never to be revealed outside of Apple's Mac team.

Nora approached this task as an "amateur"—someone new to the industry who had not yet been paid to program. Yet their work was far from inept. It was clear that their amateur status was more a reflection of underappreciation, possibly due to their nationality and the job market in Poland, rather than a lack of skill.

As we watched Nora work, something remarkable happened. In the minds of at least five other programmers that day, Nora transformed from an "amateur" to a professional artist-programmer. The precision, creativity, and dedication they brought to recreating this tiny, often overlooked detail of an operating system was nothing short of artistry.

I don't think Nora will ever fully appreciate how much we admired their work in that moment. However, it impressed upon me the importance of embracing the amateur spirit—approaching tasks with fresh eyes, unburdened by preconceptions of what's possible or practical.

This experience reinforced a valuable lesson: the importance of being a beginner again. It's a state of mind that allows us to see possibilities where others might see limitations, to question established norms, and to bring fresh perspectives to old problems.

In our professional lives, we often strive to move beyond the "amateur" label, associating it with inexperience or lack of skill. But perhaps we should reconsider. The amateur's passion, combined with professional skills, can lead to extraordinary innovations and insights.

As we navigate our careers and personal growth, let's remember the value of the amateur spirit. It's not about being unpaid or inexperienced, but about maintaining curiosity, enthusiasm, and the willingness to challenge established norms. In doing so, we might just usher in our own personal "Second Coming"—a renaissance of creativity and innovation in our work and lives.