Everyone looks at themselves in the mirror at least once and asks:
"Will I just live and die like this, nothing but ordinary?"
In the world, there are 'geniuses' who possess innate talent from birth.
Singers who captivate audiences with a single voice, those who become bestselling authors with their first book...
We feel awe when we look at them, but at the same time, we also feel an inexplicable sense of deprivation.
However, there is one clear fact.
Excellence is not merely something you are born with, but something that is also 'made.'
What we commonly refer to as 'ordinariness' does not mean having low intelligence or a lack of ability.
It refers to the 'ordinary state' to which the majority of people settle.
It is a state where one speaks similar language to others, shares similar worries, and rests at the same time as others.
The first step toward excellence begins with the decision to separate oneself from the sweet temptations offered by this 'comfortable ordinariness.'
Seoul National University's Gwanak Campus, where the nation's brightest minds are said to gather. This place is teeming with those referred to as 'geniuses.'
There is a true story of a student who left everyone in awe amidst those with innate brains capable of mental calculation and a memory that never forgets what they see once.
This story is a record of a roommate who started from the lowest place and reached the highest level, witnessed by an elite student from the so-called 'Gangnam District 8'.
In the Korean sentiment, 'studying' and 'success' are the products of perseverance.
Just as scholars of the Joseon Dynasty used to prick their thighs to ward off drowsiness while studying,
the realm of excellence opens up only when you pass through sections that others cannot endure.
"Life may be difficult for a while, but it is not difficult forever."
Right now, you may not see the difference between someone who works hard and someone who idles like a grasshopper.
However, as one, five, or ten years accumulate, that gap appears as a 'massive river' that is impossible to catch up to.
Daily 1% Learning (Daily Input): There is no end to learning.
The habit of acquiring new knowledge every day creates a compounding effect of knowledge.
Clear Targeting (Goal Setting): Vague efforts quickly lead to burnout.
Set a concrete plan for what the 'shining state' you wish to reach is.
Solitary Execution: You must enjoy the time when others do not recognize you—that is, 'training in the dark'.
That time becomes the foundation that will make you shine.
For an ordinary person, the path to excellence is a long and arduous journey.
However, if you consistently ask questions, learn, and take steps toward becoming a better version of yourself than yesterday, becoming extraordinary is only a matter of time.
