2-5-03 Be the best, be versatile

What makes someone the best? If you ask someone this question I’m sure that they will reply with their own personal opinions and views. Some might say to stay dedicated to what you are doing and to let nothing get in your way. Others might say to be a superior role model. Just think for one moment, who, that you know, has really effected your life, that you really look up to? Maybe you think they are the best at what they do? Maybe not?

In my opinion, I think that to be the best at something, to be superior to other people at what you do, involves being versatile. The definition of “versatile” in the dictionary says:

1. Capable of doing many things competently.
2. Having varied uses or serving many functions

Versatile…being able to do more than one thing with great expertise. To successfully achieve in more than one area. These are all definitions of versatile.

Now think of a sport that has more than one player, each player plays in a position. Now think of a player that has been highly successful in that sport, a player that has affected your life. The chances are that that player is versatile. Let me give you an example.

One sport that I play a lot is basketball. I enjoy watching it too. One player that has effected my life is Michael Jordan. He is the best player that has ever lived. He holds talents such as being a good role model. But he is also versatile. When I say this I mean he can do what all five other men can do on the court. He can play any position that they ask him to and he can play it excellently. This is what I mean by versatile.

How does this relate to pen spinning you ask? Well, recently there has been more and more talk of “what pen is best?” “is a pencil better than a pen?” There are, and always will be pens that are better than other pens some pens will be easier for one trick than a different pen. Some people will like one pen more than the other. Some people will even place different parts of one pen into another to create a “mod”. I believe that this is fine; it’s ok if you prefer one thing to another. I do too. But for me, the one thing that will make one person better than the other, is if they are versatile. If they can juggle with different things, if they can play a different position, if they can make more than one style of music, if they can spin more than one kind of pen, that is what makes me choose who is the superior.

AC