Lessons Learned from Faker, the Emperor of League of Legends

Late last year, T1 won the League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) finals held in Seoul. This achievement marked T1's fourth Worlds victory. Faker can be considered the key figure behind this success.

Despite his young age, Faker is a living legend in the League of Legends scene. He has achieved immense wealth and fame as one of the top esports athletes. Typically, individuals who reach the pinnacle of success tend to become complacent or fall into a rut, but Faker hasn't. Instead, he embodies the proverb, 'The taller the rice plant, the lower it bends,' displaying exceptional humility. I am learning a great deal from Faker.

1. Faker boasts an incredible career, including 4 League of Legends World Championship wins, 10 Korean League of Legends League titles, 2 MSI victories, and an Asian Games gold medal. All this at just 28 years old. His salary hasn't been disclosed, but it's considered to be top-tier.

2. Faker still says he enjoys the game, League of Legends. Even after 10 years since his debut as a League of Legends player, he continues to enjoy the game and maintains exceptional skill.

3. While he could easily get tired of the game or the competition, he expresses gratitude instead. After a recent match against KT, he reflected on reaching his 100th match against players like Bdd and Deft, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to play against them so many times. He also shared that while he used to focus solely on winning, he now appreciates simply being able to continue his career as a professional player.

4. League of Legends commentator CloudTemplar (also known as 'Cloud9' or 'KTEM') once said of Faker, 'It's difficult to reach the top, but it's even harder to maintain that position. And it's even more challenging to regain the top spot after falling from it.' Faker experienced a period of peak performance, followed by a dip, but he managed to climb back up and reclaim his position at the top.

Although he's younger than me, I learn a lot from him. In my work life, I've received a lot of praise and recognition, but sometimes it can be detrimental. It can lead to arrogance, making me think, 'Why don't they listen to me when I know best?' This selfish mindset can prevent me from performing at my best.

I also find myself focusing on complaints about my work situation instead of feeling grateful for the opportunity to work. I need to learn to persevere and endure, but I sometimes fall short in those areas.

As I embark on a new role and move forward, I'm reminded of Faker's example and resolve to work diligently and persistently, always striving to improve. I must continue to strive for improvement, even when I lack proficiency, and learn to remain humble and grateful even when I reach the pinnacle of success.