Pseudo-Excellence Hijacks Ambition; Reclaim True Mastery

The internet, rather than amplifying our inherent drive for accomplishment, often hijacks it, steering us toward the superficial performance of greatness--pseudo-excellence--instead of genuine mastery. This conversation reveals the hidden consequence of this digital redirection: a profound disconnect between perceived effort and actual progress, leading to wasted time, resources, and a diminished sense of true satisfaction. Those who feel the innate pull of ambition but find themselves adrift in a sea of online hustle culture will find clarity here. By understanding the mechanics of this digital hijacking, readers can reclaim their drive and redirect it toward meaningful pursuits, gaining a significant advantage in achieving lasting fulfillment and authentic excellence.

The Siren Song of Pseudo-Excellence: How the Internet Hijacks Ambition

We are all, by nature, wired for ambition. It’s a deep-seated instinct, a relic of our evolutionary past, urging us to tackle hard goals and impress our tribe. When channeled effectively, this drive leads to profound satisfaction and a sense of purpose. Yet, the modern internet presents a complex, often deceptive, landscape for this innate ambition. As author Brad Stulberg and host Cal Newport explore, the digital realm offers two narratives: one of connection and virtual tribes, and another of insidious distraction and the performance of achievement. The latter, pseudo-excellence, has become a pervasive trap, luring individuals with the illusion of progress while subtly undermining the foundations of true accomplishment.

The Elaborate Dance vs. Doing the Thing That Matters

Pseudo-excellence, as Stulberg defines it, is the "performance of greatness" rather than the actual cultivation of skills and mindsets required for it. We see this manifest in the endless online displays of extreme routines: waking at 4 AM, multiple cold plunges, a dizzying array of supplements, and meticulously crafted morning rituals. These individuals, often influencers, are more concerned with conveying excellence than with the sustained, often mundane, practice that defines it.

"I think that pseudo excellence is more about the elaborate dance actual excellence is about caring deeply and doing the thing that matters to you." -- Brad Stulberg

The allure of this performance is undeniable, especially when insecurity creeps in. An elaborate, quantifiable routine offers a sense of control in an uncertain world. Successfully executing a 50-step morning routine feels like an achievement in itself, a goal with no risk of failure, unlike the inherent uncertainty of mastering a craft. This "checklist productivity" provides a comforting illusion of progress, a stark contrast to the vulnerability of pursuing a meaningful, yet challenging, endeavor.

The internet, with its emphasis on attention and virality, amplifies this phenomenon. Content creators often package their "success" through these elaborate routines, not because they are essential for excellence, but because they are attention-grabbing. The underlying message--that these superficial actions lead to greatness--is a powerful, yet misleading, narrative. This isn't about genuine aspiration; it's about monetizing the idea of ambition.

The Steroid Muscles of Online Influence

The visual medium of the internet, particularly platforms like Instagram and YouTube, exacerbates the problem by prioritizing aesthetics over substance. Consider the prevalence of muscular figures showcasing intense, often unrealistic, daily regimens. Stulberg points out a crucial, and often unacknowledged, element: steroids.

"I think the part that you have right is--the rationale behind like the aesthetic of the really muscular guy that hijacks especially a masculine lizard brain. I think the part that you have wrong is that those people had a really good approach and worked really hard. I think an easier answer is that steroids work very well." -- Brad Stulberg

This isn't merely about physical prowess; it's a broader commentary on how digital platforms can launder admiration for difficult, long-term achievements into easily digestible, often misleading, content. Young men, particularly, may be drawn to the aesthetic of strength, only to be sold a regimen of supplements and early mornings, obscuring the reality of performance-enhancing drugs that enable such transformations with far less effort. The "grift," as Stulberg calls it, lies in the omission of these crucial details, leading impressionable audiences down a path of ineffective and potentially harmful practices.

This performative aspect extends beyond physical fitness. Elon Musk's infamous chainsaw moment at CPAC, brandished with a roar to a cheering crowd, exemplifies this. While Musk has achieved genuine excellence in building companies like Tesla and SpaceX, his online persona has become increasingly performative, a "WWE wrestling" match rather than genuine leadership.

"The metaphor that I used when I wrote about that was it's the difference between WWE wrestling and the best wrestlers who are actually in these midwest big ten schools like Iowa and Penn State and Purdue. There's those are two very different things. The WWE wrestlers are taking steroids and they're acting and they're playing a role and it's all a performance... but they're not actually good wrestlers." -- Brad Stulberg

The internet formats that prioritize virality--short-form video, social media feeds--incentivize this performance. When growth is the primary metric, content is reverse-engineered to be attention-grabbing, leading to a cycle of fads and trends that offer little sustainable progress.

Reclaiming Ambition: The Path to True Excellence

The antidote to this digital deception lies in a fundamental shift in how we define and pursue excellence. Stulberg emphasizes that excellence is not a static endpoint or an objective ranking, but rather a continuous process of becoming. It involves "involved engagement" with "worthwhile pursuits that align with your values and goals." This means caring deeply, not feigning nonchalance, and selecting activities that genuinely shape us as individuals.

For those in their twenties, feeling the initial stirrings of ambition, the first step is to confront the fear of failure and the pressure of online scrutiny. Stepping into the arena, willing to be embarrassed or to fail, is crucial. As Cal Newport notes, "people don't really care" as much as we imagine, allowing for genuine engagement without the paralyzing fear of judgment. The example of football player Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy despite online mockery for his earnestness, underscores the power of staying true to one's values and pursuits.

For individuals in mid-life, with less time and perhaps facing societal pressures to embrace a more relaxed pace, integrating excellence requires intentionality. This can be achieved through "job crafting," reshaping one's role to incorporate meaningful challenges, or by cultivating a "craft in leisure time." Whether it's powerlifting, playing guitar, or gardening, the activity itself is less important than the mindset of "involved engagement" and the pursuit of mastery. This approach offers agency and deep satisfaction, independent of external validation.

Ultimately, the internet's role in true excellence is as a "way station," not a "terminal endpoint." It can be a powerful tool for information gathering and connection, but it should facilitate real-world engagement, not replace it. The goal is to use the digital realm to enhance our analog lives, not to become terminally online.

Key Action Items:

• Reframe Excellence as a Process: Understand that true excellence is an ongoing journey of skill development and personal growth, not a destination or a competition.
• Identify Your Values: Spend time reflecting on what truly matters to you. Align your ambitions with these core values to ensure your pursuits are meaningful and sustainable.
• Embrace "Involved Engagement": Commit to caring deeply about your chosen pursuits. Resist the temptation to appear nonchalant or "too cool to care."
• Prioritize Deep Work Time: Schedule dedicated blocks of time for focused, uninterrupted work. Protect this time rigorously, treating it with the same importance as any other appointment.
• Create "No-Go" Zones for Communication: Designate physical locations or specific times where email and messaging are inaccessible to facilitate deep work.
• Batch Group Discussions: Implement regular "docket clearing" meetings (2-3 times per week) to address group communication and open loops collaboratively, reducing the need for constant back-and-forth messaging.
• Develop "Craft" Habits: Whether in your career or as a hobby, cultivate a craft that requires focused effort, skill development, and provides a tangible sense of progress and personal growth. This pays off in increased satisfaction and resilience over the long term (1-3 years).
• Use the Internet as a "Way Station": Leverage online resources for information and connection, but ensure these interactions lead to real-world engagement and application. Avoid becoming "terminally online."