The difference is that great work is achieved by 1 in one million people. Good work can be achieved by one in 1000 people, or one in 100 depending on your definition. You can adjust your definition of good work to your circumstances. The difference is that even if you are much smarter than average you have miniscule chance to achieve the kind of great work pg tells you about. You can have a high chance to achieve good work, if your definition of good work is realistic.
Yeah, I have some contrarian tendencies, always had, but I am not contrarian in every topic and hopefully not contrarian just for the sake of it.
Your definition of good work is so above and beyond that well under one percent can approach the rarified air of your high standards? I don't believe you.
The main problem is that pg does not even try to define what level of success he speaks about. I think he should be more clear and honest about it: Is it the one in a million great work he writes about, or is it the one in 100? These are entirely different stories. Anyway I am afraid he writes about the one in a million kind. And my point is that don't try to optimize for that kind of success, it is better to adjust your approach to your circumstances to have a greater chance of success.
Yeah, I have some contrarian tendencies, always had, but I am not contrarian in every topic and hopefully not contrarian just for the sake of it.