The Power of 50 - Mastery Level 9999

I’m a guy; I've loved video games since birth, especially ones that require leveling up and developing characters in-game. There's something about going from 0 to 100 real quick that is nothing short of addictive.

Final Fantasy 7 is one of those games that require you to embark on a voyage that should take you roughly 50 hours to complete. In my case (as a nut case), I would level up for 50 hours before beginning the journey at all. This is simply because I enjoy the process of growth more than the content of the game.

I love leveling up—my physical body, the information stored in my brain, my ability to play music, to speak, to write, the way I perceive things, to change things, how I love my family, how I deal with anger. I love leveling up everything.

There is a new anime based on an older manhwa (comic) called Solo Leveling. The premise of the story is that people are born in a world with a certain level, determining their ability and strength in life. The leveling system is pretty straightforward, ranging from level 0 to 100. This level can never change; it will not go up or down; it is what it is. The level an individual is born with is called their Innate Level.

In the story, there is a rare phenomenon known as "reawakening," where individuals can experience a one-time boost in their level. This reawakening generally occurs in response to some great difficulty, like fighting an impossible monster. This one-time boost to their level is typically fixed and can’t be further increased afterward. This implies that while the individual gains a sudden surge in power, their potential for growth will end at that point.

The protagonist in the story, Sung Jin-Woo (the weakest of them all), undergoes a unique reawakening. Unlike the typical reawakening, Jin-Woo's experience is exceptional in that it not only grants him a significant increase in level but also opens up the possibility for continual growth. He can work out and grow his level, kill monsters and grow his level, etc. In a world where growth cannot be achieved, this absurd ability is nothing short of godly. Jin-Woo takes this ability and makes himself an absolute beast.

Our world is way better than that of Jin-Woo's in that we all have the ability to level up. The restrictions placed on individuals in that story are only restrictions held mentally by us; they're not definitive. Retail, as unattractive to many professionals as it may seem, is likely a better way to level up than many other roles you might have in your mind.

Consider Manukau Westfield One NZ. This will easily give a staff member 50 opportunities to interact with another human per day. The emotional state of those individuals will vary; their needs will vary; the chaos, difficulty, tolerance, appreciation or lack thereof will vary. It's such an interesting experience. Agents have an opportunity to practice taking the customer from a state of chaos and disorder and walking them to a finish line.

Fifty opportunities to practice how to welcome a human, to listen, to question, to understand, to problem solve, to work through emotions, and provide solutions. It's extraordinary. Fifty opportunities to engage in this process means 250 times per week, 1000 a month, 12,000 a year. If a person can’t shoot a 3 after that, I think they should take up soccer.

If an individual can go through this process in a state of awareness, eyes open to the experience they are having, I recommend fearing the being they will inevitably become. To that individual reading this, just know the experience you are having is actually 100x better for you right now than the 20k pay rise you want so much to sit in a nice seat sending emails. F**k that, my friend.

Conway