When did we decide that everything we do has to be something we’re good at?
Working with MBA admissions is tricky because everything turns into an optimization game. Want to learn guitar? Better start a band. Want to pick up knitting? Time to launch a successful side business. Want to start gardening? Better grow an award-winning tomato.
Now I’m not saying that being good at your hobbies isn’t important. Showing admissions committees that you’re better than your competition is the name of the game.
But somewhere in that mindset, we lose something: the permission to be bad at things we love, just because we love them.
The Joy of Doing Something Badly
I, for example, am not great at vegetable gardening. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get seeds to germinate. I have mixed luck when it comes to growing tomatoes: at least I can grow them, but my yield is pathetic. But it’s incredibly satisfying to keep testing new approaches to see if anything works. Even though I’m bad at it, tending to my garden is one of the best parts of my day.
I think this sort of mindset is incredibly important. Hobbies used to be things we did just to enjoy them, maybe connecting with like-minded people along the way. When did we lose permission to be mediocre at a few things, but let ourselves find joy in the mediocrity?
Why High Achievers Struggle With This
For high achievers, though, this can be brutal. Being bad at anything isn’t something they’re used to, and it’s uncomfortable, so they turn hobbies into achievement projects or avoid certain hobbies entirely.
Being bad at hobbies can be lots of fun and can also teach us about ourselves. We learn that our self-worth isn’t tied up in achievement, it lets part of our brain rest (when was the last time you did that?), and it connects you with the humility of being a beginner at something (which might help us have more compassion for others).
Two Truths: One for Admissions, One for You
So yes, when you’re applying to an MBA, show them a hobby you excel at and tell a killer story about it. But for yourself? Try a secret hobby this year without caring whether or not you’re any good at it. You don’t need to optimize your involvement, post about it on LinkedIn, or incorporate it into your personal brand. You’re allowed to do things you like badly, inconsistently, with zero improvement, forever.
I’m going to kill some more plants this spring. I can’t wait.
