We are prone to mediocrity. I call it "talent blindness," and it shows up when our natural abilities permit us to stop looking for areas of improvement. A rising tide lifts all boats, and just playing by the rules will take you pretty far in this great country of ours. Consequently, most companies (and individuals) can get along pretty well in life if they do a couple of things well. But is that enough?I strive to achieve mastery in how I interact with others. Fundamental to that process is anticipating how you "land" on others. Very few people think like this. Do you want proof? Have you ever wondered why most email subject lines and file names are devoid of information relevant to you--the sender never thought about you before transmitting. Most don't even consider how they might use the info! I have a record of thinking outside the box--envisioning new ways of doing business that disrupt the established players. Hopelessly unemployable, I credit my 20+ years of waking up in distant cities as the key to keeping an outsider perspective. I am amazed at how long it took to discover virtual assistants. I am fortunate to work with some fantastic young people in the Philippines and my second home in Colombia. The Coronavirus has demonstrated to the world that talent knows no boundaries. It is one of my goals to facilitate that transformation by assisting aspiring tech workers worldwide to contribute to the global economy. When offering advice on succeeding at difficult tasks, I am an expert on what will NOT work and a novice on what WILL work. I know that success often comes after a long succession of failures. (This is in large part explains why I have spent about ten years of my life OUTSIDE the US) I know that exposure to experience can be the best teacher if you learn the lessons taught. So I have sought out, learned from, and often partnered with many industry leaders. From public speaking to storm restoration, apprenticeship is still the best model for personal development.