Become the best in the world at what you do.

"Become the best in the world at what you do. Keep redefining what you do until this is true." Naval

In this newsletter, I'll dive into a life-changing experience - building specific knowledge.

Fasten your seatbelt, as I take you through my turbulent journey.

I've changed my niche 10 times over the last 2 years.

Every time, it felt horrible...

"What is wrong with me?"
"I don't want to start over."
"I've just wasted the last 4 months of my life."
"Have I finally found a niche I'll stick to for years?"

My journal is full of such phrases.

So I know every pain and challenge of changing niches.

A single shift in perspective could have saved me from these struggles.

I wish I knew (and understood) the Naval's wisdom sooner.

Warning: Today's letter will be Naval-heavy.

First, you need to understand the concept of Specific Knowledge.

What Is Specific Knowledge?

1. Specific knowledge is a "thing" that you were born to do.

"Specific knowledge is found by pursuing your innate talents genuine curiosity and passion rather than whatever is hot right now." Naval

Your specific knowledge is tailored for YOU.

You can't find specific knowledge without being YOU.

Look, it requires:

• your passion,

• your innate talents,

• your genuine curiosity.

And we can't fake these things. We can't force ourselves to do them.

2. Specific knowledge must be fun.

"Building specific knowledge will feel like play to you but will look like work to others." Naval

And I learned that lesson back in 2018.

Sadly, for me, it felt more like work than play.

So in 2018, I worked as a Front-end Developer. I built Web Applications.

In short, the job required 2 skills:

1. Programming.

2. Web Design.

And I genuinely hated the 2nd part.

I was OK with programming. But I still feel sick when I think about designing.

On the other hand, a colleague of mine (let's call him Mike) loved it.

So when I had to create a mock-up (design a web page before the coding part), I procrastinated hard.

Instead of tackling the design task, I found myself endlessly surfing in Internet and talking to my colleagues.

But Mike?

Mike was in the zone!

He was flying through the mock-ups. He kept improving them. He moved the buttons 4 pixels left and 6 pixels down. He adjusted the shades of green 15 times to find the perfect one.

His head moved along with the mouse cursor. He turned his head left and right. He unconsciously stuck his tongue out.

So, of course, Mike was outstanding at his job.

And this, my friend, is specific knowledge.

Our team had only 2 Front-end developers - myself and Mike.

He was the only one having fun!

And he was obsessed...

3. Your specific knowledge is something you're obsessed about.

"If you're not 100% into it, somebody else who is 100% into it will outperform you. (...) and they'll outperform you by a lot." Naval

"... outperform you by a lot."

Saying I was outperformed by Mike is a huge understatement.

I didn't intend to compete with him.

But naturally, I compared myself to him.

And the comparison didn't favor me.

So I struggled...

And a massive self-doubt kicked in.

"I will never be like Mike."
"I will never enjoy my job."
"I will always be mediocre."

2018 wasn't my favorite year... I was in the wrong place...

4. Specific knowledge cannot be taught at school.

"When specific knowledge is taught, it’s through apprenticeships, not schools." Naval

Mike's passion came from his innate talent and genuine curiosity.

The school can't teach obsession.

School gives you the basic knowledge.

But specific knowledge requires years of practice and experience.

So let me wrap up specific knowledge:

• it feels natural for you

• you have fun doing it

• you are obsessed with it

• you learn it through practice and experience

Mike is a lucky guy. He found his specific knowledge at 19.

But 99% of us spend years to find it.

Or worse... never try to find it.

Now, with a better understanding of specific knowledge, let's break down another challenge - finding it!

Finding Specific Knowledge Is Damn Hard

"No one can compete with you on being you. Most of life is a search for who and what needs you the most." Naval

Naval's quote is bitter-sweet.

First, it gives hope.

Then, it reveals the price that you pay for it.

"Most of life is a search..."

Most of life seems like a lot...

Again, in 2018 my career vision didn't look good.

"I will never be like Mike."
"I will never enjoy my job."
"I will always be mediocre."

Today I know that only the first sentence was true.

I will never be like Mike.

Because I don't want to be like him.

I've got different:

• curiosities

• unique skills

• innate talents

• personal expertise

• intrinsic motivations

So my role is to find specific knowledge that matches my uniqueness.

And once I find it, I will enjoy my job.

And I definitely won't be mediocre!

Since 2021 I've been actively pursuing my specific knowledge.

And it's the hardest journey I've ever been on.

The "search" regularly serves me the painful feelings of:

• confusion

• frustration

• overwhelm

• uncertainty

• wasted time

• wasted effort

• not progressing

And that's why 95% of people never find their specific knowledge.

They never find out their true potential.

Because pursuing specific knowledge requires:

• patience

• resilience

• exploration

• adaptability

• starting over

• fear of being left behind

And the pursuit has many ups and downs.

Here's my biggest challenge:

"If it entertains you now but will bore you someday, it's a distraction. Keep looking." Naval

But how can I tell it's going to bore me someday?

Every 2-4 months, I find a new obsession.

I truly I've found "IT"!

Let me give you an example.

In November 2021 I started seeing Web3 and Blockchain content on my LinkedIn feed.

Many people I knew from the Data Science field started talking about it.

So I felt there was a huge party next door, and I was knitting at home.

The FOMO was HUGE.

So I joined my first Web3 community.

And I decided to invest the Christmas break to explore Web3, Blockchain, and the cryptocurrency world.

During the Christmas break, I learned theory.

But I also went into the coding part of Blockchain, which allowed me to write Smart Contracts.

On January 3rd, 2022, I decided. I was becoming a Blockchain Developer!

"This is it! I'll do it for the rest of my life!" I thought.

It seemed like a perfect fit for my unique skills and personal expertise. As a Blockchain Developer, I would:

• code

• build applications

• never stop learning

• meet interesting people

• make an impact in a new field

• never get bored because Web3 provides novelty all the time

2 weeks later, I publicly announced my decision.

I've even created #77daysofblockchain on LinkedIn to share my journey (you can still find it).

For the next 5 months, I was soaking up every piece of knowledge I could find.

And I shared everything I learned. I posted on LinkedIn almost every day and wrote 12 articles on Medium. And I was an active member of the CharlieDAO community.

And I even participated in a hackathon.

In May 2022, I started to struggle.

Blockchain was challenging, and my progress slowed down.

So I decided to take a well-deserved 2-week break to recharge and regroup.

I imagined the holiday would refuel my enthusiasm so that I come back stronger than ever.

Coming back refreshed and reenergized would help me overcome the challenges of becoming a successful Blockchain Developer.

But when I returned, an unexpected realization hit me.

All my emotions towards Blockchain vanished.

Just like that...

The enthusiasm, the excitement, the determination, and the passion disappeared.

I have never ever done anything Blockchain related anymore.

I haven't written a single line of code.
I haven't watched a single second of videos.
I haven't written a single word about that topic.

What seemed like a lifelong passion turned out to be another short-term excitement.

I've invested hundreds of hours to become a successful Blockchain Developer.

Looking back, they seem like a massive waste of time and effort.

So, here's my question:

Given the challenges associated with pursuing specific knowledge, is it truly worth it?

And despite the constant battle, my answer is YES.

But it requires a perspective shift.

Be patient. You'll see huge returns.

"99% of the effort is wasted." Naval

Looking back, you see many things you've invested in but don't need anymore.

They seem like a complete waste.

But this effort is wasted only from the goal perspective.

Think of:

• things you've learned at school but never used,

• broken relationships you've invested in,

• topics you've explored but abandoned.

So when you look at them from a goal-oriented point of view, they look like a complete waste.

And if you've changed your niche many times, you know how it feels. I surely do.

But 99% of the effort is NOT wasted from the growth perspective.

Exploration requires waste.

Exploration is a process of learning and growth.

That's how you evolve.

At the end of this process, you'll receive the biggest reward - your specific knowledge.

You must explore to find your specific knowledge.

And once you find it, invest deeply:

"When you find the 1 percent of your discipline which will not be wasted, which you'll be able to invest in for the rest of your life and has meaning to you - go all-in and forget about the rest." Naval

The "invest in for the rest of your life" part is crucial here.

Here's why:

"All the returns in life, whether in wealth, relationships, or knowledge, come from compound interest. Play long-term games." Naval

To see huge returns, you must play the same game for years.

But how to play a long-term game if you don't like that game?

How to compound knowledge if the early enthusiasm vanished?

I'm still searching for the "one thing" I can commit to for a lifetime.

For the past years, I've been asking myself:

"What is it like to stay dedicated to a single pursuit for at least 12 months?"

Hopefully, I'll have that experience soon.

So despite frequent moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, I embrace the journey.

Because I'm growing.
Because I'm progressing.
Because I'm far from perfect.

And because I'll finally find my specific knowledge!

And I'll stay in my game forever.

So again...

To play long-term games and reap the rewards of compounded efforts, you need specific knowledge.

You need to:

• follow your passions,

• use your unique skills,

• utilize your innate talents,

• follow your genuine curiosity.

Of course, it takes patience and tons of wasted effort.

That's why 99% of people never try. They prefer to be stuck in a job they hate.

But if you're reading this, you're in the other 1%.

You're betting on yourself because you know you're capable of much more.

And you're ready to live up to your full potential.

Yes, it is harder than you expected.

But it's still worth it!

So...

Be patient.
Keep exploring.
Enjoy the journey.

And go all in once you've found "IT".

"What you're trying to do is find the thing you can go all-in on to earn compound interest." Naval

At the end of that journey, you will be rewarded!

Your Turn

Are you in the process of finding your niche?

What are your biggest struggles?

What keeps you motivated?

We all have unique stories and challenges on our journey to finding our specific knowledge.

I've shared mine, and now I'd love to hear yours.

Just "Reply" to this email to share your story with me! (I'll answer everybody).

And if you found this newsletter insightful, forward it to your friends struggling with finding their niche.

Keep exploring.
Keep growing.

Thanks for reading.

Kris

PS. We are expecting our son any day now. Please send some love to my wife!