The Art of Finer Distinctions: The link between Tom Brady and Magnus Carlsen

When examining world-class professionals, it seems as if they are operating in their own dimension. They can do and accomplish things that have never been done before.   When thinking about who I personally have seen exhibit this ability, two professionals come to mind.  The first is Tom Brady, the NFL quarterback who is arguably the greatest of all-time. Over his career he won seven Super Bowls and 5 MVPS at the highest level. The second is Magnus Carlsen, a Norwegian chess grandmaster who also is arguably one of the greatest of all-time in his domain of chess. By the age of 13, Magnus had already become a grandmaster, making him the third-youngest person to achieve this feat at the time. There is a long list of things that contribute to their success, but one that points out to me is finer distinctions.

When coming across the idea of making finer distinctions, it excited me because I knew there was substance behind it. It is also not one-dimensional. You can see the idea play out in nearly every environment, business, sports, entertainment, science, and politics.  This ability to see things that are not currently visible is an impactful skill that can skyrocket progress and success.

The capacity to make finer distinctions is not something anyone is born or blessed with, it's a skill honed through years and decades of experimentation and immersion in the craft.  Being curious about the optimal and relentlessly ascending towards higher levels of skill.  This is in a completely different domain of hard work. Due to the deep experience and knowledge both Brady and Carlsen possess, there are virtually no situation they have not already been in. They have such a big basket of experiences they can refer to in any given moment. Brady and Carlsen are also just not seeing the game from the same lens as everybody else. The beautiful thing is that it is all internalized and not even seen. When at the chessboard or on the football field, they are taking in smaller batches of data compared to everyone else. When a rookie quarterback is thrown into the NFL, he enters a new domain from what he previously was accustomed to. So, when he enters a game, his brain is getting bombarded with information that he needs to pick up on to be able to make the best possible decision. Even those who have been in the game for decades themselves can lack the ability to make finer distinctions at the higher levels. It's ultimately what separates the masters from the masses.

Being able to make the high-level decisions subconsciously is without a doubt in a way a superpower. Developing this skill is something i am currently being more aware of as i move through my life. I take inspiration in seeing the greats do it and try to create my own philosophy around it that best serves me.  This is not something that can be achieved overnight, or even in a year. There is also no finish line of making finer distinctions. The challenge to be more creative, make better decisions, be more competent, is a never-ending process. It's what makes striving for excellence so fulfilling. Making finer distinctions is important because it plays a crucial role in your perception of the world you. Seeing things you would of otherwise missed, noticing subtle differences in the way of things.

Chess grandmasters, like Magnus Carlsen, demonstrate an exceptional ability to analyze the chessboard and identify patterns and positional advantages. Chess is strategy dominated so making finer distinctions is the backbone of the craft.  In football, Brady uses finer distinctions to read defenses, anticipates opposing moves, and make split-second decisions that gives his team a competitive advantage. These are examples that highlight how mastering finer distinctions puts Brady and Carlsen in favorable positions.

Finer distinctions don't stop here though, in something such as photography, the photographer rely on finer distinctions in lighting, perspective, and composition to capture the perfect mood or moment. Even in your daily interactions with others such as recognizing subtle emotions, body language, and nonverbal cues allows for effective communication and increased connectivity.  Looking at personal development, being attune to finer distinctions within yourself, being able to identity the limiting beliefs that don't serve you, understanding the behaviors that are detrimental to your health and goals. Making finer distinctions makes you more adaptive and allows you to navigate the complex world with greater insight.

The Process

Making finer distinctions is not just about making choices. It's a complex cognitive process that involves juggling skills simultaneously. This blend of cognitive capabilities is demonstrated by two greats of their respective domains, Magnus, and Tom. I will lay out the capabilities that I noticed were requirements for making finer distinctions. These are universal and will serve you no matter what path you pursue.

• Pattern Recognition: Both chess and football, at their highest levels, are about recognizing patterns. Carlsen perceives patterns on the chessboard, predicting his opponent's moves, while Brady deciphers defensive formations on the field, figuring out how to exploit them.
• Anticipation: Anticipation is central to both chess, football, and life. Carlsen anticipates his opponent's strategies several moves ahead, while Brady anticipates where his receivers will be and what the defense will do before the snap. Seeing past the current of your own life will aid in your decision-making as to how to move forward.
• Adaptability: The ability to adapt is crucial. Carlsen, given his opponent's move, must modify his strategy accordingly. Similarly, Brady, upon recognizing a blitz or a change in defense, must adjust his game plan. Life seems to never go as planned, being flexible in your actions and thinking open you up to opportunities you would have otherwise missed.
• Attention to Detail: Both Brady and Carlsen show exceptional attention to detail. Every slight move on the chessboard or shift on the football field can have significant implications.
• Mental Toughness: Lastly, mental toughness, the ability to sustain focus and bounce back from setbacks, is a shared trait. Brady has orchestrated numerous comebacks in his career, like how Carlsen has turned unfavorable positions in chess matches into victories.

So, how can the art of making finer distinctions, demonstrated by Magnus Carlsen in chess and Tom Brady in football, be applied to other areas of life?

What are some other examples of finer distinctions at play?

• Business Strategy: The ability to recognize patterns, anticipate market changes, adapt swiftly, and pay attention to minute details can set apart successful entrepreneurs. Steve Jobs, for instance, anticipated the rise of personal computing and adapted Apple's strategy which ended up changing the world.
• Music Composition: The greatest composers, like Beethoven or Mozart, demonstrated a remarkable ability to create timeless masterpieces. Their attention to detail and adaptability within music, set the standard for later generations to follow.
• Scientific Research: Top scientists often notice patterns and details others overlook. Albert Einstein's ability to pick apart previous theories such as Issac Newton's, led to him creating his own which one becoming the Theory of Relativity, a discovery that shifted the world's understanding of physics.

These examples illustrate how making finer distinctions can be applied across different domains and is not held captive to a particular one.

Cultivating the Ability to Make Finer Distinctions

On the practical side of things, the ability to make finer distinctions boils down to a few simple things:

• Strengths - Being able to decipher what is it that make you unique and different from everyone else, then leaning deeply into that. It is counterproductive to sacrifice momentum and progress trying to handle skills that go against strengths. It's a reason Tom Brady can simultaneously be one of the slowest (running speed) and greatest quarterbacks of all-time. Trying to have the style and strengths of Lamar Jackson goes against the grain of who he is. He leans into his strengths of decision-making and accuracy.
• Practice - The brains build connections and makes skills become automatic through repetition. It is a mistake to believe that all things must be natural or easy.  Even if one is blessed with a particular skill, to fully cultivate it and exploit it to its fullest requires constant refinement and tuning. Doing work or developing a skill that offers a challenge while also bringing enjoyment from improving is the perfect balance to have.
• Patience- I have not met either Brady or Carlsen, but i think it's safe to assume that they are patient people. It takes high levels of patience to continually repeat the same actions over and over to reach the mastery desired. People today are more impatient than ever, wanting things instantly without doing the necessary labor. The society we live in has instant gratified everything. It's difficult to not let this leak into your own work and goals.  I am currently building the necessary patience to achieve the goals I have set out for myself.
• Perspective - Having a more wholistic perspective on life will pay dividends when it comes to making finer distinctions. You will prevail long-term if you see can beyond the current moment. It is easier to strategize when you have more details and options at your disposal. The losers are usually the ones who lack perspective, they can't see beyond themselves.  It is common to get stuck in your own way from habitual and limited thinking. This usually results in getting caught up in tasks that don't contribute to the desired outcome. Executing on the essential daily tasks, while also not neglecting the bigger picture, is the way.

The art of making finer distinctions is not just a cognitive skill but a way of life, an approach that encourages you to embrace complexity, pay attention to detail, and continually adapt. It's a journey of constant learning, improvement, and growth. Whether you're navigating the complexities of a personal relationship, making strategic business decisions, or even playing a sport, recognizing, and understanding the finer details can make a world of difference.

- Jamiro