Comments for David Safar

Comment on A Personal Update by Sam Wise

Sam Wise — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:47:09 +0000

So thankful for your post on “gratitude” ! Couldn’t agree more!!

Comment on About Me by James

James — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:26:58 +0000

David, I also hate the word. Like you, I’m not exactly sure why, but it could be for the reasons you’ve mentioned. However, I was thinking it also may be this: I do think that I, personally, am a fortunate person, even though there are many extremely fortunate people in the world (uber-rich, for example) whose lifestyles, in comparison, make me look like a pauper. But there are also way more people (and other animals) whose lives are miserable due to sickness, abuse, or extreme poverty. Therefore, if I am truly one with humankind, if I truly feel the pain that others feel, how can I feel grateful? Maybe, deep down, that’s why the word grates on me. Then, again, maybe it’s because, when someone uses the word grateful, it somehow relieves them of guilt or their responsibility to others who suffer, who didn’t ask to be born into that life of suffering, and have nothing to be thankful for.

Comment on Jobs Are Overrated by David Safar

David Safar — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:59:28 +0000

Glad to hear that my post helped to reassure you about your decision, Athena. My my math, the nine weeks should be up right about now… congratulations on your new adventure!

Comment on Jobs Are Overrated by Athena

Athena — Sat, 21 May 2011 12:43:28 +0000

This is a fantastic article and I can relate to pretty much every point, the main real difference being I’m a teacher so I am less sedentary than office workers, I often walk around. When I show I have good ideas, sometimes I get more money yes sometimes I don’t but I also get given more responsibilities even if I say no I don’t have time to do that. This post is very encouraging, I am leaving my job in 9 weeks (already quit but as it’s a teaching job I have to be there longer after I quit) and this makes me feel less scared and more excited, yes a big part of what I will be doing involves freelance & being self employed!

Comment on Welcome to Uplift! by DavidSafar.com » Blog Archive » Community

DavidSafar.com » Blog Archive » Community — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:04:06 +0000

[…] it’s important to have a community for any major goal you are trying to achieve. As I noted when I began this incarnation of the blog, I think it’s true that most of the problems people have in […]

Comment on The Crucible: Developing Expertise by AJ

AJ — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:24:24 +0000

Hmm, 10,000 hrs ay? I spent five yaers learning a trade as an apprentice. At the end of that time I was proficient in some areas and excelled in others. Phrases such as world-class expert make me shudder. Its ok and realistic to expect the possibility of becoming an expert in a chosen field, but world-class c’mon. The phrase is declarative of exclusivety not attainability. 10,000 hrs, at my age that makes me world-class in so many realms. AJ world-class reader , tv watcher, games player, car driver, cyclist, motorcyclist, and the list goes on. You can hone your craft over time but you may never become world-class. On the other hand mastery leading onto perfection may come readily to you in however long it actually takes 5,000 hrs or 50,0000 hrs. Acheiving success on any goal is dependant on so many things, you the individual are only one of those components. Strive for whatever your goal is and appreciate your success along the way 😉

Comment on The Crucible: Developing Expertise by Peep

Peep — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:54:26 +0000

Wow. Who would have thought that I was a world-class expert on anything! Certainly not me, but after 7 years at the same job, I think I kind of was! People STILL come to me for the answers and it’s been over a year since I’ve moved on.

What you say is true however, just because you’re an expert in one thing, it doesn’t mean you can port that expertise to another project with any degree of success. This was clearly demonstrated to me in my shift from one department to another.

I do wonder about the 10,000 hours though. It’s an interesting concept, but it almost seems that we all have to get up to speed so much faster than that. I’ve been at this job for almost a year and a half now and I am able to speak confidently about the processes we administer, how they relate to other areas of the company, the interdependencies between departments, etc. Am I a world-class expert on this? No, not yet. There are still questions to which I need answers, but I know far more than the vast majority of the rest of the company. So that brings to mind a question…

How do you KNOW when you’re a world-class expert? When there is no question you or anyone else can come up with that you don’t already know the answer? Or is it simply that you know enough to be able to extrapolate a plausible answer from the information you already have? Or maybe it’s just when everyone starts coming to you for the answers or starts telling you you’re a genius! 😉

Comment on The Crucible: Developing Expertise by Tabie

Tabie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:09:29 +0000

I can see how 10,000 plus hours could make you and expert. However, I consider anyone that has the training and knows enough about the subject to do an accurate job in good time to be an expert. Being and expert varies from person to person. Like person A may have one of those sponges for a memory and picks up anything and everything and can apply it perfectly. Meanwhile person B may have a good memory but needs the practice in order to be perfect. Thats where the 10,000 hours comes into play.
Either way I agree with you on how the workplace should encourage a person to become an expert in that field. Not only does it up the quality of work that the company puts out but, i imagine it also creates a more loyal employee.

Comment on On Terrorism, Racism, And Lots Of Other Words Ending In “-ism” (supplement) by DavidSafar.com » Blog Archive » On Terrorism, Racism, And Lots Of Other Words Ending In “-ism”

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:42:38 +0000

[…] you really wish to know, examine the supplement to this rambling, but be warned: it is graphic, and not for the faint of heart. Posted in […]

Comment on Complacent You and I by DavidSafar.com » Blog Archive » On Terrorism, Racism, And Lots Of Other Words Ending In “-ism”

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:36:38 +0000

[…] more on the subject of complacency, have a look at my poem from about a year ago, Complacent You and I. In that work I mentioned a bloodless war; it would appear that Complacency has drawn first […]