Yvon Chouinard on 80 Percent Proficiency

Fri 02/01/08

I’ve always thought of myself as an 80 percenter. I like to throw myself passionately into a sport or activity until I reach 80 percent proficiency level. To go beyond that requires an obsession and degree of specialization that doesn’t appeal to me.
— Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia founder, excerpted from Let My People Go Surfing (found via Simple Bits)

3 Comments

  1. Daniel

    It’s so weird that you’ve posted this now, because my brother and I were literally discussing this yesterday – or at least talking about our mutual propensity for hobbies/interest to only a certain depth. In the midst of the (online) conversation, he sent me a link to that post on Cederholm’s website.

    Fine coincidence, eh?

    Fri 02/01/08 at 12:35 pm

  2. Cameron

    That quote is the most positive and encouraging way i’ve heard that particular issue expressed. I’ve always pretty much called it a problem I have.

    Fri 02/01/08 at 2:20 pm

  3. Grant

    I don’t remember this exact quote in it, but Yvon Chouinard wrote an excellent article in Outside about the formation of Patagonia. It’s a couple years old, but I found it recently. The article has the same title, Let My People Go Surfing, so it may just be a synopsis of the book. I thought it was a fascinating read.

    Sun 02/03/08 at 11:33 am

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