Boredom

Something said in Atomic Habits impacted me big time.  He said the greatest threat to succuss was boredom.
He cited a coaches answer when asked what sets the very best apart from the best.  The coach said the very best were willing to do the things now easy but always necessary.  Others tended to chase other things rather than do what would always be necessary.
I found that to be a very interesting thought.  The author had been talking about what is called the “Goldie Locks” principle.  It states we are most inclined to perform at our best when a task is neither too easy or hard.  What is needed is a sense of competence and a challenge to keep us engaged.
I have seen this in sport.  I like to watch the best of the best play but I also get into something that may be a competition amongst 4th graders.  The key is both feel they stand a chance as they are equally matched.  And both need to accept a challenge to enable them to win.
I did see this in table tennis in again where I was involved.  We were incredibly evenly matched.  It was two games all and 5 all in the best of five.  Then my opponent changed tactics.  He won.  He took a chance and did something unexpected.  I did not have time to adept.   That happened years ago but I have never forgotten it and I have nothing but admiration for my opponent.
I remember doing particularly well in a test.  I referred to something that had not been covered in the lectures but was the result of my own research.  The tested commented on it and was pleased to see not just parroting back of information but personal research on the topic.
To me it highlights competency along with challenge.  Going the extra mile.  Doing the basics and challenging myself to take it further.
The Japanese have what is considered some of the safest railways in the word.  They have taken the basics to a whole other level.  It would be easy to assume no-one is embarking into a carriage or the train is leaving on time.  But they have taken what by others was a given and sometimes costly to be an essential.  They point at the carriage entry to show they have checked and point to the clock to show they are leaving on time. 
Boredom being a problem is not something I have considered but I sure can see how it would be.