I am already a world-class teacher, a world-class friend, a world-class colleague and a world-class daughter-in-law.

I still want to teach, I just want to change the subject. I want to teach anthropology. This is my calling in life. I hope I will be a world-class anthropology instructor some day.

Trashy novelist. Because if E.L. James can do it, anyone can!

So not a paleo answer. Um, I want to eat better and exercise more, blah blah blah ;)

Pro surfer - beach life for me!

I will be world-class at Paleo-fu. That means learning even more biochemistry, physiology, nutrition and evolutionary biology such that I can speak the Paleo language to the public at large, using my writing and journalism skills and contacts.

I will transition to writing for science and technology publications - far ranging in scope like Wired to Nature to Good - to bring ancestral health knowledge to both laypersons and to the geeked out armchair Paleohackers.

The first step is collating previous works and applying for a science journalism fellowship.

Whether Timothy uses this or not, THIS IS WHAT I AM DOING.

Blues guitar player!

I would be a world class procrastinator, I'll tell you what I would do if I had a gun against my head tomorrow.

I'd be a world-class artist. If I had a gun to my head, how would I approach learning this skill? I'd learn from the great masters, replicating their work and analyzing the thought process behind each of their masterful strokes.

In 2013, I would become one of the best in the world at meeting people for the first time, and leaving a lasting impression.

I am a successful networker/socializer and consider myself "very good" in this department. But we all know there is a huge gulf between "very good" and "amazing". I would like to become exceptional at making a rapid a connection with anybody in any setting, and leave a lasting impression on them. This would be valuable in so many ways. (Side note: 2 years ago I met Tim randomly at a party in San Francisco, and had a pleasantly quick, empty, forgettable chat- exactly the kind of thing I want to learn how to not repeat in future when meeting great people).

I would approach acquiring this skill by reading books on the subject and practicing recommendations, researching and imitating the world class, and experimenting by isolating variables (e.g. dress, common topics of discussion, how I introduce myself etc), changing them and recording the results.

On a closing note, thanks Tim for always challenging the notion of the impossible.

-Sheraan Amod, CEO Personera.com; New York & Cape Town

Painter!

Paint!

I love to paint and people love and buy my paintings. I could do this. I need to do this.

But . . .

I have a “successful” very small business that has the proverbial metaphorical gun against my head. This is no 4HWW – more like 60 – 70 HWW. That’s a lot of gun time! It is a business requiring a lot of specific knowledge, some of which a person needs before I hire them and some of which they can only learn from me. I usually have 1 or 2 employees and I can usually work remotely if it is not one of my busy months. I might be able to outsource some work and automate some through technology. I definitely need to tech up (haven’t had time to keep up like I would like – haven’t had time for much of anything). Theoretically I could sell it or have someone else run it but getting there is a long process and I have a serious time problem . . . no time to save time!! I have been in business for 21 years. There is much I like, even love, about it but I want to think about retiring or at least becoming much less involved – 4 hours per week would be nice. How to get the horse in front of the cart? Paleo, Crossfit, GTD Grandma

Magazine publishing, specifically for the purposes of a paleo/primal based magazine.

Not just recipes, workouts, etc; I feel like there's an aesthetic waiting to break out of the paleo movement that hasn't been been fully captured in the multitude of blogs and books out there. I'm talking Gourmet meets Outside meets The New Yorker, with intellect and interest and pretty pictures to boot.

Someone want to go in on that with me?

Climb everest. Starting the year with zero training.

I'd choose to be world-class at drawing emotion-packed scenes (such as that of August Landmesser with his arms folded in a crowd giving the Nazi salute). I'd get there by reading books on technique, focusing for short bursts on specific skills, and looking at drawings by the masters on break.

I'd become world class at total recall - being able to remember what I read/heard perfectly.

I'd be a world class learner. I'd master the art of internalizing basics quickly, and seeking appropriate challenges for my current level. At higher levels I'd shorten the time spend att the dreaded plateau, where no skill gains are noticed.

The techniques I would master are finding crucial sub-skills for 80-20 leverage, practicing those skills in isolated and challenging ways, and maximizing direct feedback by measuring everything and getting guidance from teachers appropriate to my level.

With a gun to my head, I'd quickly learn a good defense :)

1.A fantastic aunt. I have been following my dreams for over 3 years now, and I reached what I call success (happiness as a fun, moving perpetual target). Now I want to transmit that to my family’s new generation.

2.It depends, what’s the reason? How vulnerable/crazy/right is this person? Assuming it’s a narcissistic psychopath & for no reason: “You have the power. You decide. You’ve probably taken life before, but by not pulling the trigger, you will now have also reached a new power - to give life… In essence, everything I do and see after this, will be because you allowed it.”

Parkour Traceur! I'm moving to West Europe to pursue it. There may not be internet so I'll just post a movie when I get back to Australia and I'm world class. ;)

I'll be training with this dog.

I wish to become internationally competitive in the sport of Gymnastics with the intention of competing at the 2016 Olympic Games. With a passion for the scientific method, and frustration with the traditional results-by-volume approach employed by most coaches, my desire is to accelerate strength gains and skill acquisition across all of the men's disciplines via rigorous self analysis, experimentation and consultation with sport scientists within the national and state institutes. Game on.

I'd be a world-class professional basketball player. By that, I mean signing a contract with the NBA or very high-level team overseas. At minimum, I'd settle for a A or B level contract with the NBA Developmental League.

Currently I've already: - Developed a 40+inch vertical and speed to match - Hired a skills development coach - Played minor league - Been contracted with the NBA Developmental League (undrafted) - Practice meditation, self-hypnosis, etc - Working on lucid dreaming so I can improve waking performance

I feel the 2 pieces I'm missing are 1)Solid Connections and 2)Unwavering Confidence (Ali-Style)... Given that the season has started, if I had a gun to my head, I'd probably walk on to a practice unannounced and start practicing with the team.

I'd become a world class translator. This way I could communicate with anyone I met, get to know them, exchange jokes, experiences and talk with anyone I wanted to. Language would be no barrier and I would enjoy the strange sensation of using an entirely different palette of words now and then. Plus... I could read all the instructions on the washing label.

I would become world class at my faith.

This is perhaps a different spin from other goals on this thread. It's true that I'd also like to be a good rock climber and a good Capoeirista but those things are secondary.

With a gun to my head it'd still be tricky.

Yes, I'd have an easier time remembering that my more worldly goals are more temporary.

Still, I'd be likely to try more extreme measures to become a saint when those might not be appropriate. Yes, some are called to be reclusive hermits. Some are called to be like Blessed Mother Theresa and going to desolate places to tend the dying. But some are called do the small things of a seemingly mundane life with love and excellence.

Vividly attentive prayer and focus on human relationships would be the main things. I would not be afraid to be honest with other people about what matters most to me. My learning and entertainment consumption would be more guided by my worldview. If sacrifices were necessary (fasting, giving up certain things) I would embrace them. I would spend more time discerning if I was being called to family life. I would pursue that in ways that I shun right now (like going out dancing).

Sorry to the folks this offends. That is not my intent, and I know there are many who disagree with faith perspectives in general or in particular. This isn't an argument, it is simply my honest answer to the question.

Paleo food for thought! That's awesome! :)

I'd choose to become world-class at just getting things done...at having way more bias toward action. I'm great at planning, organizing, thinking, studying, creating, etc....but when it comes to just all-out DOING, and doing the most important things, I still trip myself up much more often than I'd like.

So -- gun to my head? Haha...that might generate just the right level of focus...be kinda awkward, though...

I’d do what I try to do now...be more continuously mindful of what and how I do throughout my day, and make more good choices in the moment.

Sounds so easy…until another squirrel runs by…

Hmmm...fun question. I love it! Probably a world calss Quick Draw expert. I love guns...I love Westerns...sounds like great fun to me!

In 2013 I will be a world-class information architect. If I had a gun against my head, I would do nothing different, because I believe that doing to get most of your life should be the default mode. I tell what I am actually doing:

• I use a hypertextell reference system that act as a artificial intelligence called "Zettelkasten" (German). I tweaked a system that is the common trait behind most hyperproductive information architects (e.g. Hegel, Luhmann, Goethe)
• I shedule my time strictly from 7:30am to 10:00pm and devote this time to my goals. Saturday evening and part of sunday I see my familiy
• I train mostly twice a day for an hour per session to give my current project credebility and test my hypothesis. I seek for being the best physical being I can be and aiming for the world record in pull ups.
• I write one post a week for my life and philosophical blog to share my spiritual and rational thoughts on life to give back.
• I do yoga and meditation every morning to ground my emotional life.
• I eat six days on a strict diet. It is mostly paleo with some tweaks from perfect health diet and my own experiment and research. Sunday I eat as I want to.
• Everything I do I try to modify so that won't only have short term effects but have also potential long term benefit. I try to accumulate my knowledge in a stock that has a reinforcement loop (Meadows - Thinking in Systems)

Best Regards from Germany Sascha Fast

I would be a World Class Inspirational Old Fart!! (There should be a medal for whomever gets there!)

I am 59, obese, with a handful of health issues that would cause most to trip up a little, mostly when you realize you're no longer the 30 year old god you thought you were. ("Thought" being the applicable fantasy word here.) Oh the mind games we can play on ourselves!!

I discovered Paleo this past spring, and haven't looked back. Not too bad for someone who thought nothing of downing 5 or 6 donuts at a sitting and then dinner an hour or two later, mostly to fool family members into thinking you we're eating right.

The gun already is at my head. Three years ago we buried my Mum, who passed away from suites of complications brought on by obesity, and a singular unwillingness to change lifelong habits. Two months later, and for the first time in my long and lazy life, I joined a gym. Through the years to today, I tried "WW" only to watch weight continue to pile on. I did Atkins, but not knowing that the reason it made me sick was an allergy to eggs.

3 years, 30 lbs down, and several diets later, I'm exercising a little every day and finally finally ecstatic with a diet of Paleo foods.

I have 100 more to go - and figger that will take about a year.

Worth a medal, huh?

To find my life. Everything seems out of control -- work, relationships, all of it. I want to learn and I want to teach, but I have no expertise. I want a home (not just a house), a job I love (or a way to obtain money enough to never have a "job" again!), people I love, a body I can live in.

Gun to my head? Hope your trigger finger doesn't get itchy. This could take a while.

That's an easy one Tim. I would want to be a world class surfer. I have surfed for 23 years and it is one of the great pleasures life. However, the limiting factor in being able to catch lots of waves and surf in technical and challenging conditions is surfing ability.

Gun to my head? I would hire Brad Gerlach as my personal surf coach and go on a World Tour. Maybe Indonesia to start.

Flamenco guitar.

If I had a gun against my head (or indeed several successful muses on the go), then I would be heading to Spain (Andalucia) for the year to immerse myself in the culture, language, food (oh definitely definitely the food) and spend much of each day learning and playing. I doubt this would take me from hobby player to world class, but it would sure as hell be a good year!

If you could become world-class in anything in 2013, what would it be? If you had a gun against your head, how would you approach it?

CrossFit Elite, if I had a gun to my head, I'd train or run or practice yoga everyday. Which to a clean body building and performance based diet while re-reading the 4-hour body to start ;)

i'd be a world class sage. nothing better than being content and at peace with exactly what's in front of you.

If I could be anything I would be a world class blogger. Being a world class blogger would provide me with the geographical and financial leeway to live the life I’ve always dreamed of. There are so many things I want to do in this life, but like most people because of the "real world" I live in I feel I am incapable of doing so. My blog would center on targeted periods of me becoming “awesome”. Think of what you did Tim with becoming a champion dancer. I would follow in your footsteps and choose things that I am extremely interested in, and used targeted periods of intensive learning to become highly proficient in them. Along the way I would record my trials and tribulations on my blog. I think this could be a highly successful concept. I really have wanderlust, and being a great blogger would allow me to see the world, support my soon to be wife, and spend more time with the people I care deeply about. The issues I have with accomplishing this is I am never satisfied when I write anything, and I’m hesitant to invest so much time in something that might fail when I already have so little spare time between wedding planning, work, and other commitments.

If I had a gun to my head I would approach it the same way I would approach new learning experiences in the blog. I would seek out an expert in the field I was interested in to absorb as much info as I could from them. In this scenario I would probably try and win a 20 minute call with that Tim Ferris guy to pick his brain as much as possible about my idea, then quit my job and start.