Proximity to Excellence
Training spreads information. Proximity spreads judgement. Why being near excellence remains one of the most powerful ways to learn.
Editor’s Note: This essay sits within Cultivated’s exploration of learning as behaviour, not content. It argues that proximity — working near excellence — is one of the most under-appreciated forces in personal and organisational capability.
Proximity
We have no shortage of training.
Courses multiply.
Certifications stack.
Learning platforms promise mastery at scale.
On paper, many people now carry extraordinary qualifications.
And yet, there remains a persistent gap between knowing and doing.
Knowledge travels well. Competence travels slowly.
Learning by Proximity
The most reliable way to learn is not a lesson.
It is proximity.
Being near someone who does the work well (and with enthusiasm) changes how you think, notice, and act.
You see the micro-decisions, the posture, the timing, the judgement calls that no course captures.
Tacit knowledge does not travel in PDFs.
It travels through observation, imitation, and shared context.
This is why nothing worth knowing can realistically be taught.
This is why apprenticeships endure.
This is why great managers often trace their development to one formative leader.
This is why creative communities accelerate craft faster than isolated study.
The Quiet Curriculum
When you are close to excellence, you absorb a curriculum no syllabus contains:
How standards are set.
How feedback is given.
How ambiguity is handled.
How mistakes are owned.
How dignity is maintained under pressure.
A craftsperson in motion.
These behaviours compound. Over time, they become instinct.
Training teaches language.
Proximity teaches judgement, taste and craft.
Choosing Your Neighbours
We often think of learning as content consumption.
In reality, it is environmental design.
Who you sit near shapes who you become.
Who you observe shapes what you normalise.
Who you work alongside shapes what you believe is possible.
This is true in organisations, in craft, in leadership, in life.
Proximity as Strategy
For good learning organisations, proximity is not accidental.
It is designed.
Pairing juniors with masters.
Creating communities of practice.
Making expertise visible rather than abstract.
Allowing people to watch work, not just hear about it.
For individuals, proximity is a choice.
Seek out excellence.
Stand near it.
Stay long enough to be changed by it.
Proximity turns information into ability.
It is one of the oldest learning technologies
— and still one of the most powerful.
This piece forms part of Cultivated’s wider body of work on how ideas become valuable, and how better work is built.
To explore further:
→ Library — a curated collection of long-form essays
→ Ideas — developing thoughts and shorter writing
→ Learn — practical guides and tools from across the work
→ Work with us — thoughtful partnership for teams and organisations
